Aaron Ramsey Eyes World Cup Return Amid Club Uncertainty

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, a three-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal, articulated that making it to next summer’s World Cup would be the “icing on the cake” for him.

Following a resounding 7-1 victory against North Macedonia on Tuesday, Wales finds itself just two matches away from qualifying for the World Cup finals, taking place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

The upcoming play-off draw revealed that Wales will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Cardiff during the semi-finals. A victory in that match would see them host the winner of the tie between Italy and Northern Ireland.

However, Ramsey, who has netted 21 goals in 86 appearances for the national team, has been sidelined from the Welsh squad for 14 months due to injury. In an interview with Sky Sports News, he remarked, “There are a lot of things that need to fall into place for that [playing at the World Cup] to be a realistic target.”

While reports suggest that Ramsey’s one-year contract with Pumas UNAM has been terminated prematurely, he has not officially confirmed his departure from the Mexican club. The team has also yet to announce his status, although Ramsey has indicated his openness to joining another team.

“We’ll see now over the next couple of weeks. I can’t play for anybody until January anyway, so we’ll see how things develop,” he stated.

The former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder had expressed excitement about joining Pumas after leaving Cardiff City last season. Unfortunately, his time in Mexico has been marred by injury, limiting him to just six appearances, with his last match in September.

Ramsey’s experience in Mexico was further complicated by personal challenges, including the disappearance of his dog, Halo, prompting his family to offer a reward for information about its whereabouts.

Wales will host Bosnia, while Northern Ireland will visit Italy in the play-offs. Manager Craig Bellamy noted that Ramsey “still has a lot to offer” and remains hopeful for his fitness ahead of the crucial one-legged play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina on March 26.

With home advantage for both the semi-final and a potential final, Ramsey acknowledged the invaluable support from fans at Cardiff City Stadium, stating, “They’ve been on this journey with us through the highs and lows. When we’re playing at home, it’s just incredible, especially the anthem at the beginning when the music goes off; it’s a spine-tingling moment. If you can’t get up for a game of football after hearing that, then you’re in trouble.”

Having served as the interim manager for Cardiff during the final three games of the 2024-25 season, Ramsey was unable to prevent the Bluebirds’ relegation from the Championship. Nonetheless, he expressed a keen interest in pursuing management after his playing career, saying, “I’ve done my badges; it’s something that I really enjoy doing. I went with Wales last week [against Liechtenstein] and gained valuable insight into the behind-the-scenes efforts. It’s addictive, so I definitely see myself going into that space.”