Aaron Ramsey Eyes World Cup Spot Amid Club Uncertainty

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who has celebrated three FA Cup victories with Arsenal, remarked that qualifying for next summer’s World Cup would be the pinnacle of his career.

Following a decisive 7-1 triumph over North Macedonia, Wales is now just two matches away from securing a place in the finals, which will be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The recent play-off draw revealed that Wales will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Cardiff during the semi-finals. A victory in this match would lead them to host the winner of the clash between Italy and Northern Ireland.

Despite having scored 21 goals in 86 appearances for Wales, Ramsey has been sidelined for the past 14 months due to injury, raising questions about his ability to return to the national team. “There are a lot of things that need to fall into place for that [playing at the World Cup] to be a realistic target,” he conveyed to Sky Sports News.

While Ramsey did not confirm reports regarding his departure from Pumas UNAM, it is suggested that his one-year contract with the Mexican club, which he joined last July, may have been terminated early. The club has yet to make an official announcement on his status, but Ramsey indicated an 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 expressed enthusiasm about the challenge of joining Pumas after leaving Cardiff City at the end of last season, yet he has only made six appearances due to ongoing injury issues, with his last match occurring in September. Additionally, his time in Mexico was complicated by the unfortunate disappearance of his dog, Halo, prompting the family to offer a reward for information.

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

With home advantage secured for both the semi-final and a potential final, Ramsey acknowledged the vital role of the fans at Cardiff City Stadium, stating, “They’ve been on this journey with us throughout 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.”

Ramsey also took on the role of interim manager for Cardiff in the final three matches of the 2024-25 season, though he was unable to prevent the team’s relegation from the Championship. He expressed interest in pursuing a managerial career after his playing days, 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 insights into the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into preparing the team to execute a game plan. It’s addictive, so I definitely see myself going into that space.”