Undefeated Wales manager, Craig Bellamy will announce his squad for the opening set of World Cup Qualifiers tomorrow at 10am. He will follow that up with a press conference scheduled for 11am UK time.

After Swansea City complete their Saturday game against Burnley this weekend those selected in that squad will meet up at the Vale hotel in Hensol, South Glamorgan on Sunday evening. This has been first choice for the Football Association of Wales (FAW) for some twenty five years for squad gatherings. We expect Liam Cullen, Ollie Cooper, Ben Cabango, and if fit Joe Allen to be all named. Swans head goalkeeping coach, Martyn Margetson is a member of Bellamy’s coaching staff, he will also be at the Vale come Sunday night. As we saw for those crucial games in October and November there is a spirit in the Wales camp. Bellamy is yet to taste defeat. Wales actually ensured their pathway and went into Group J after a magnificent 4-0 win over Iceland in the final game of the Nations League. That meant no play offs and an avenue straight into World Cup Qualification.

That in itself made the 4-0 win one of the biggest games we have seen in quite a while, and there’s been a few this past fifteen years. The fixtures for this qualification are below.

⚽️ The similarities to 1958.
Craig Bellamy has worked miracles to date, straight qualification to the groups which lead to the 2026 World Cup - another step in the national sides noticeable improvement since Rob Page left his post in June 2024. Despite the uneasiness with Page continuing in his managerial role he did successfully get the national side to the 2020 Euros (played in 2021) some stating that was as a result of the work of Chris Coleman and then Ryan Giggs. Coleman took Wales to the semi finals of the Euros in 2016. In fact Jimmy Murphy in 1958 and Coleman in 2016 are the most successful tournament managers of Wales. Page, despite his two tournament qualifications only won one out of seven games in top competition. Murphy won just one game in 1958 but secured three draws and was extremely unlucky to not defeat Brazil in the quarter finals. Seven of that starting eleven were either current or ex Swans players, or in one case, Jack Kelsey born in the town. Once again as today Swansea being the core of the Wales squad and indeed its success.

The first fixture takes place next week at home on Saturday (7:45pm) in Cardiff against Kazakhstan. This gives Bellamy and his coaches a good shot at getting things right to take three points from this opening game. We will find out tomorrow morning what selections Bellamy has made, he has some very exciting players to choose from and no shortage of commitment to the cause. Players like fans love to be involved in a winning formula. Bellamy has that formula down to a tee, having said that tickets are on open sale for the game on the 22nd. Thereafter the national side travel to North Macedonia for an away tie on the following Tuesday (7:45pm) That will complete the two games during this international break before we return to club matters at the Swans.

Ethan Ampadu, Harry Wilson and Rhys Norrington-Davies are all out this time around.

We will have the squad announcement, the build up, the game, reports and so much more on the Indy. No longer will there be a focus on the national side from one part of the country. When this site was taken over in September 2020 that was one of our obligations to you. To delve into the history of the national side and cover them more favourably. After all when a club dominates the squad and its players are crucial to that success why would any publication not do so ?

Come on Cymru !

Photograph already registered via Reuters. Artwork by Swansea Independent

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