Cymru moved a step closer to 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification this year as Craig Bellamy’s side finished runners-up behind Belgium in Group J.
Bellamy began the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign still undefeated as Cymru head coach as Cardiff welcomed Kazakhstan back in March. Harry Wilson, Ethan Ampadu and Aaron Ramsey were notable injury absentees for the opening two games, but Bellamy spoke optimistically on the eve of first match.
“I’ve been really impressed with them this week and I’m excited about what’s to come,” he explained. “I want players to be to express themselves, and if you have the ball at your feet, it will show a true version of you. We allow players to take responsibility.
“I want them to feel free to express themselves with the ball. Without the ball, you have to able to work for the team, and all these elements allow you to enjoy the ball. But if you cannot work without the ball, this is not the environment for you.
“Enjoy it, that’s the message. I wish I had enjoyed my career more. This is everything. If you cannot enjoy this, why would you put yourself in this position. I’m grateful for this opportunity and grateful to be back at this level.”
It was a comfortable start for Cymru against Kazakhstan as Dan James put the side ahead inside the opening 10 minutes before further goals from Ben Davies and a first for Rabbi Matondo sealed a 3-1 win.
A tougher test would follow against North Macedonia a few days later and all seemed lost in Skopje when Bojan Miovski put the home side ahead just after the 90-minute mark.
However, the character of this Cymru team was there for everyone to see as David Brooks ensured his side would claim a share of the points deep into stoppage time.
“Obviously it was a very tough game,” said Brooks to BBC Sport Wales after the match. “When you come away from home to places like this it’s going to be a bit of a challenge. I think we probably deserved more from the game but obviously we’ll take a point from where we were with a minute to go.”
Joe Rodon, Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore made light work of Liechtenstein in Cardiff in June as Cymru registered a 3-0 win, but plenty of drama would follow in Belgium three days later in what would prove to be the defining match of this qualifying campaign.
Bellamy’s side found themselves three goals behind inside the opening half hour, but Wilson provided hope when he converted from the spot just before half-time.
Incredibly, Cymru pulled it level through goals from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson, but there was one more twist to come. On 88 minutes, Kevin Dr Bruyne escaped his marker and made it 4-3 to the home side.
“Disappointment of course because we’ve lost,” said Bellamy to Sgorio. “I’m immensely proud but that doesn’t mean that I accept defeats. Our quality in the second half especially was what I was really proud of, that was really pleasing. There’s a lot still to play for in this group and we’re a very good team.”
The competitive action returned in September as Cymru came away from Kazakhstan with a 1-0 win through Moore. Friendly defeats to Canada and England followed, with a crucial test awaiting in Cardiff as Belgium arrived for the return match in October.
The September match against Canada in Swansea allowed Bellamy to hand senior international debuts to Ronan Kapakio, Joel Colwill and Kai Andrews, but a goal just before half-time from Derek Cornelius proved to be the difference between the two sides.
A tough test against England at Wembley Stadium followed as the home side scored three inside the opening 20 minutes to claim a comfortable 3-0 win. For Bellamy, the experience meant more than the result with the pivotal match against Belgium in Cardiff just a few days later.
“I’m a little bit different, and I don’t advocate for everyone to be like this, I quite like losing sometimes,” he said on the eve of the Belgium match. “It makes me push, makes me see things even more. I’m prepared for whatever happens, and I always am. I have to be consistent in everything I do.”
Defender Ben Davies captained the side on his 100th senior Cymru appearance and it was Rodon who put Cymru ahead in the early exchanges, but Belgium responded to score twice and head into half-time with the advantage.
De Bruyne then scored his second penalty of the match to make it 3-1, but Cymru again showed that resilience as Nathan Broadhead reduced the deficit in the final moments. However, there was still enough time for Belgium to score a fourth and all-but secure top spot.
“We felt the best way to combat this team was to have the ball and we created a lot of chances,” said Bellamy. “We opened-up more at the end and it didn’t help us and we lost control in the end. We wanted top spot to go straight through, but I’m aware of where we are as well.”
The penultimate group match took place against Liechtenstein in Vaduz with Bellamy banned from the touchline and Wilson serving a one-game suspension. However, Jordan James’ first senior Cymru goal on the hour mark proved crucial and delivered maximum points for his side with a 1-0 victory.
The campaign came to an end at home to North Macedonia, and Cymru saved their best for last. In a dominant, attacking display, Wilson captained his country for the first time and showed his quality by grabbing his first Cymru hat-trick.
Goals from Brooks, Johnson, James and Broadhead completing the 7-1 win to claim the runners-up position. It was an incredible, attacking team performance from Cymru on the night and the first time that the side had scored seven goals since a 7-0 win over Malta back in 1978.
“I just enjoyed tonight, it was really top for us,” said Bellamy. “I believe that was the type of performance we need to be producing. I hope the players enjoyed it tonight, because I enjoyed watching it. Tonight is as close to perfect as I could have hoped for. The whole team were exceptional.”
Belgium also scored seven in their final group game without reply against Liechtenstein to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Group J winners. Wilson’s form made him the joint-second highest goalscorer in the group with five goals, equal with Belgium’s impressive star Jérémy Doku and one behind De Bruyne.
The draw for the play-offs took place in November and handed Cymru a home match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the semi-final on 26 March 2026. A win for Bellamy’s side would then setup a one-off match in Cardiff against either Italy or Northern Ireland on 31 March to qualify.
The year also marked the end of four international careers as James Chester, Joe Allen, Wayne Hennessey and Joe Morrell all announced their retirements from the game. The quartet had made over 250 senior appearances for Cymru between them, with Allen and Hennessey featuring at three major tournament finals.
It was also the year where we said goodbye to three former Cymru internationals as Dudley Lewis, Wyn Davies and Joey Jones all passed away during the summer. Jones will be remembered as the first Welshman to lift the European Cup as a key part of the Liverpool side that won the trophy in 1977.
