Wales Aims for Sustained Success in League A Amid World Cup Aspirations

omidbasir- Wales achieved promotion from League B in November 2024, remaining unbeaten in the first six matches of Craig Bellamy’s tenure as manager.

Bellamy expressed his enthusiasm for competing against top-tier teams, as Wales has been placed in a group with Portugal, Denmark, and Norway in the Nations League.

However, the team’s immediate focus is on the upcoming play-off for the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Bosnia in a semi-final match on March 26. Bellamy emphasized that maintaining their position in League A is essential for their goal of securing automatic qualification for future major tournaments.

“I am very excited and quite pleased with the draw,” Bellamy stated. “Our objective is to remain in this group. We have fluctuated between League A and B, and currently sit second in the qualifying campaigns. Our aim is to rise to the top spot, allowing us to compete for first place.

“Staying in League A will enhance our chances of being a top-seeded team in qualifiers, enabling us to participate directly in tournaments without the need for play-offs.”

The match against Portugal will be particularly significant, as it pits Wales against a team that famously ended their remarkable Euro 2016 journey in the semi-finals. Bellamy anticipates this encounter will be a true test of Wales’ ability to maintain the possession and intensity displayed during their journey to the World Cup play-offs.

Portugal’s manager, Roberto Martinez, acknowledged the resurgence of Wales under Bellamy’s leadership after their absence from Euro 2024 and disappointing World Cup performance in 2022.

“Wales is a national team I hold dear and understand well,” Martinez remarked. “I recognize their passion and the significance of representing their country, which will make the matches against Wales competitive and engaging.

“Craig Bellamy has instilled a sense of daring and a willingness to face any national team head-on.”

In their last encounter, Cristiano Ronaldo scored Portugal’s first goal in a 2-0 victory over Wales during the Euro 2016 semi-final. Martinez described Norway as the “form team in European football,” thanks to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland’s pivotal role in their flawless World Cup qualification campaign.

Bellamy noted the similarities between Norway and Denmark, acknowledging the challenges posed by both teams. “All of these matches will be tough; that’s the nature of competing in League A, where only the top 16 teams in Europe participate. These will be high-quality games.”

The Nations League campaign is set to commence in September, featuring four matches in a densely packed schedule that could test the depth of Wales’ squad. The hope is that this campaign follows a successful World Cup appearance in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, contingent on navigating the play-offs against either Northern Ireland or Italy after facing Bosnia.

Regarding the prospect of taking his country to a major finals—a milestone he never experienced as a player—Bellamy reiterated the importance of focusing on the present.

“It’s one game at a time,” he remarked. “Our priority is beating Bosnia. I wish I could look further ahead, but right now, my entire focus and energy are directed at this match. The future will take care of itself.”