Cymru squad announced for start of World Cup qualifiers versus Kazakhstan and North Macedonia

Craig Bellamy has announced a 26-player squad for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, where Cymru will face Kazakhstan at the Cardiff City Stadium (Saturday 22 March) and North Macedonia in Skopje (Tuesday 25 March).

Midfielder Kai Andrews receives his first senior team call-up and Daniel James will be involved off the back of receiving the EFL Championship Player of the Month award. Tom Lawrence has been included in the squad for the first time under Craig Bellamy, but Aaron Ramsey has been forced to withdraw due to injury. 

Ollie Cooper also returns to the squad after missing out in November due to injury, but Harry Wilson, Ethan Ampadu, Wes Burns and Rhys Norrington-Davies are unavailable as they recover from their respective injuries.

Off the back of an unbeaten UEFA Nations League campaign which secured promotion to League A, Bellamy’s side will kick off the World Cup qualifying in front of the Red Wall on a Saturday night in the Cardiff City Stadium, with what is expected to be a capacity crowd.

For the qualifying campaign, Cymru have been drawn in Group J alongside Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein. The group winners qualify directly for the World Cup; the four remaining berths are determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up and four teams from last year’s Nations League phase.

Tickets for the match against Kazakhstan (KO 7:45pm) are available to purchase on the FAW ticketing website.

Cymru: 

Danny WARD (Leicester City), Karl DARLOW (Leeds United), Adam DAVIES (Sheffield United), Ben DAVIES (Tottenham Hotspur), Joe RODON (Leeds United), Chris MEPHAM (Sunderland- on loan from Bournemouth), Ben CABANGO (Swansea City), Connor ROBERTS (Burnley), Neco WILLIAMS (Nottingham Forest), Jay DASILVA (Coventry City), Tom LAWRENCE (Rangers), Joe ALLEN (Swansea City), Josh SHEEHAN (Bolton Wanderers), Jordan JAMES (Stade Rennais), Ollie COOPER (Swansea City), Kai ANDREWS (Motherwell- on loan from Coventry City), Sorba THOMAS (Nantes- on loan from Huddersfield Town), David BROOKS (Bournemouth), Kieffer MOORE (Sheffield United), Brennan JOHNSON (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel JAMES (Leeds United), Liam CULLEN (Swansea City), Nathan BROADHEAD (Ipswich Town), Mark HARRIS (Oxford United), Lewis KOUMAS (Stoke City- on loan from Liverpool), Rabbi MATONDO (Hannover 96- on loan from Rangers).