Wales’ World Cup Qualifying Group Announced, Craig Bellamy Targets Automatic Qualification

Wales’ journey towards the World Cup in North America is set to commence in March, involving a 3,000-mile away fixture, a prospect head coach Craig Bellamy eagerly anticipates. The team’s campaign will begin in three months, following their placement in a five-team qualifying group. Head coach Bellamy observed the draw that saw Wales grouped with both familiar and new adversaries for a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Crucially for the Wales manager, being in a five-team group means their qualifying fixtures will start in March. With matches against Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein now confirmed, Bellamy is promptly focusing on securing automatic qualification. “I’m happy with the five teams, it gets the competition going very quick, and that’s what I wanted, I wanted five teams, so that’s a real positive,” said Bellamy. “It’s been a good period, it’s a good draw.” “I’m really looking forward to this, I’m excited to work with the group, we’re all just looking forward to it, I genuinely feel this is a group we want to go and win.” Bellamy intends to build upon the momentum from his inaugural Nations League campaign, where his team remained undefeated in his first six matches since succeeding Robert Page. Nevertheless, the former Wales captain has affirmed that reaching the World Cup is his primary objective, and he expressed enthusiasm for the challenge presented by the draw conducted in Zurich. Wales will compete against long-standing rivals Belgium, who topped their group in 2022 World Cup qualifying. They will then aim to overcome their underdog status in games against third seeds North Macedonia, undertake a demanding journey to Astana for their match against Kazakhstan, and strive to avoid any missteps against the lesser-ranked Liechtenstein. Wales’ opening fixture is at home against Kazakhstan on 22 March, and the group qualifying campaign will conclude on 18 November with a match against North Macedonia, also held in Cardiff. The team will travel to Belgium on 9 June, with the return fixture on home ground scheduled for 13 October. Bellamy added: “To get Belgium is great; I lived in Brussels for three years so that’s nice, there’s few players I was involved with, like Jeremy [Doku] and Zeno Debast, so it will be nice to see them.” “It’s a team I know very well, a team I’ve watched quite a lot of especially in the last five, six years.” “North Macedonia is a different challenge, Kazakhstan we’ve never drawn before, so travel and what it will entail will be very different, Liechtenstein… I’m happy, I have to be honest, it’s a good group.” “We’re going to have to do our homework really well, and hopefully try and attack and finish top of the group.” Had Wales been placed in a four-team group, they would have played friendlies in March and June before a condensed campaign starting in September. Bellamy acknowledged this, stating: “It’s good to get going [in March].” “I really enjoyed the Nations League; friendlies I understand, but if I’m honest I’m not too concerned, because I don’t see international games being friendlies – now we have none, we’re straight in which is nice.” “There always something on a game, but this is real, live, this is qualifying.” Wales has experienced notable moments in their recent rivalry with Belgium, including a victory inspired by Gareth Bale during their Euro 2016 qualification journey. BELGIUM: Fifa Ranking: 8; Manager: Domenico Tedesco; Key Player: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City); Stadium: King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels (50,093); Most Recent Meeting: Belgium 2-1 Wales (Moore), September 2022 Nations League. Wales supporters are well-acquainted with Belgium, having been drawn against them in three of the last six qualifying campaigns. Including Nations League matches, the two nations have met nine times since 2012, though the current Belgian squad differs from their “golden generation” which has seen some decline. Captain Kevin de Bruyne, a member of the 2016 team Wales defeated on a memorable night, reportedly considered retiring from international football and subsequently took a break after a period where the team secured only one win in their last eight matches, including a recent loss away to Israel. They are scheduled to participate in Nations League play-offs against Ukraine in March to avoid relegation to the second tier, having steadily dropped in the Fifa rankings amidst reports of internal disputes. However, as Bellamy