Cymru’s hopes of securing automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup hang delicately in the balance as Craig Bellamy’s side prepare for their longest-ever away trip – a daunting journey to Astana to take on Kazakhstan this afternoon.
The Dragons currently sit second in Group J, one point adrift of leaders North Macedonia. Their only defeat in the campaign so far came in a pulsating 4-3 reverse against Belgium in June. Belgium remain third, three points behind Cymru but with two games in hand.
With only the group winners assured of a place at next summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the equation is simple for Cymru: win all four of their remaining fixtures and hope Belgium falter. Should that fail, Bellamy’s men face the familiar prospect of a play-off in March – the same path that carried them to Qatar in 2022, their first World Cup finals appearance in 64 years.
“I’m really interested to see what happens,” Bellamy said ahead of the tie. “The travel, the pitch – it’s so exciting. This is why we’re here. We want to go to a major tournament.
“It’s supposed to be hard. These group games are always hard, but they have to be because we’re in the European stage to qualify for what we see as the major tournament. We’ve managed to earn the right three times now out of the last five tournaments, and we aren’t going away. We want it to be this one. If it isn’t, it’s going to be the next one. We love the hardness of it. I expect a really hard game.”
Record-breaking journey, loyal support
This is the furthest the men’s side has travelled for a qualifier, eclipsing even the women’s 7,000-mile round trip to the same Astana Arena in 2022. Yet distance has not dissuaded supporters, with more than 1,000 Red Wall faithful making the trek to Kazakhstan’s vast capital.
Kazakhstan, the ninth-largest country in the world straddling both Europe and Asia, are relative minnows in football terms. Ranked 114th by FIFA – 83 places below Cymru – they nonetheless provided stern resistance in Cardiff back in March, briefly drawing level before succumbing 3-1.
Bellamy remains cautious. “Playing them at home in Cardiff was a good challenge as well, how they set up, how they look to counter-attack. They spent a long time without the ball and that usually breaks teams earlier than it did. We call it heart. I admired it.
“For us, do we have the quality on the day? That’s the most important. Have we prepared well? Are we able to adapt? We’ll have to take the game to them. Whatever the circumstances, we adapt. That allows you to be excited about every game.”
Adding extra intrigue, four players from the Kazakh squad were part of Kairat Almaty’s team which recently dumped Celtic out of the Champions League qualifiers.
Team news
Bellamy has endured a testing build-up with several withdrawals. Leeds centre-back Joe Rodon, Coventry full-back Jay Dasilva, Wrexham striker Nathan Broadhead and goalkeeper Danny Ward all pulled out on Wednesday through injury.
Their places have been taken by Tom King, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Joel Colwill – the Cardiff City midfielder earning his first senior call-up. Colwill joins after older brother Rubin was originally selected but forced to withdraw following a knock in Cardiff’s win over Plymouth.
Rodon and Dasilva both completed 90 minutes for their clubs at the weekend, while Broadhead and Ward picked up injuries with Wrexham. Cymru are also missing Leeds’ Ethan Ampadu and Burnley’s Connor Roberts, while captain Aaron Ramsey has not been selected due to lack of match fitness.
There is better news with Harry Wilson fit again, the Fulham playmaker featuring off the bench at Chelsea last weekend. He is one of several creative options available to Bellamy, alongside Brennan Johnson and Sorba Thomas. Three uncapped players – Cardiff teenagers Ronan Kpakio and Dylan Lawlor, plus Coventry’s Kai Andrews – are also in contention to make their debuts.
Match facts
- The only previous meeting between the nations came in March, Cymru winning 3-1 in Cardiff.
- Cymru have won just two of their past 14 away games (six draws, six defeats).
- Kazakhstan have not won a home World Cup qualifier in 11 attempts since 2013.
- Cymru have scored 14 goals in their last five games, finding the net at least three times in four of them.
- Harry Wilson has had a hand in 13 goals in his past 15 Cymru appearances.
- Sorba Thomas has created 17 chances in this qualifying campaign – only two players in Europe have managed more.
Kick-off in Astana is at 3pm BST, with live coverage on BBC One, S4C, iPlayer, BBC Radio Cymru, and Radio Wales.
