Wales vs Kazakhstan LIVE: Craig Bellamy’s workforce start World Cup qualifying marketing campaign in Cardiff
Wales begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign tonight as they face Kazakhstan at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Craig Bellamy’s side managed to turn around the disappointment of failing to qualify for Euro 2024 and even finished top of Nations League Group B4 last year, surpassing Turkey on the final matchday.
Former Wales captain Bellamy received plenty of plaudits for that turnaround, though he will undoubtedly feel that his first real test is to secure a place at the next World Cup.
The fact that the 2026 is the first expanded tournament means that Bellamy should have a somewhat easier job task in securing qualification, though Group J still pits Wales against Belgium, North Macedonia and Liechtenstein.
Follow all the latest build-up, team news and updates from the Cardiff City Stadium below:
Kazakhstan line-up
Kazakhstan XI: Zarutskiy, Tapalov, Bystrov, Marochkin, Alip, Vorogovskiy; Chesnokov, Tagybergen, Muzhikov, Samorodov; Zhaksylykov
Subs: Pokatilov, Seisen, Astanov, Zhumakhanov, Zhaksybayev, Kenzhebek, Zhagorov, Zhukov, Aimbetov, Satpayev, Orazov, Mukhamed
New rivals
This will be the first meeting between Wales and Kazakhstan at men’s senior level.
Kazakhstan are ranked 110 in the world, 81 places below Wales, and were relegated from the second tier of the Nations League in November with only one point from six games.
But Wales should beware complacency: Kazakhstan won six of their 10 Euro 2024 qualifiers and beat Northern Ireland home and away, as well as upsetting Denmark and Finland.
Tuchel on facing Wales in October
England boss Thomas Tuchel said: “The games against Senegal and Wales will present good challenges for us against two very different opponents.
“Facing a strong African team in a passionate city with rich football heritage and then a derby match at the iconic Wembley; two big occasions that can only help us on the road to the World Cup.”
England to host Wales at Wembley as Thomas Tuchel builds towards World Cup
The neighbours have met on 104 occasions, most recently during the 2022 World Cup group stage, and will go toe-to-toe once more on October 9.
The Football Association has also announced a friendly against Senegal – another nation England faced in Qatar – at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on June 10.
Wales line-up to face Kazakhstan
Wales XI: Darlow; Roberts, Williams, Rodon, Davies; Sheehan, Brooks; Johnson, Cullen, Thomas; James
Who is the number one?
Bellamy rotated his goalkeepers during the Nations League campaign with Danny Ward and Karl Darlow playing three games each.
Neither Ward nor Darlow are starting at their respective clubs, Leicester and Leeds, but surely the time is right for Bellamy to choose a number one for Wales’ World Cup adventure.
Overcoming injuries
Wales have been dealt a cruel double blow with injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson, arguably their two most important players.
Wilson scored in four of Wales’ six Nations League games and Ampadu’s influence is massive in a central midfield are where Bellamy is short of options.
Skipper Aaron Ramsey is also absent with hamstring issues that have plagued him in recent times.
Building on Nations League success
Bellamy remains unbeaten after six games – the best start by a Wales manager.
Wales topped their Nations League group in the autumn with three wins and three draws, finishing above Turkey, Iceland and Montenegro to secure top-tier status in the next edition of the competition.
The aim now is to maintain the feel-good factor prevalent since Bellamy succeeded Page last summer.
Bellamy’s crusade
Wales boss Craig Bellamy never came close to gracing the World Cup as a player.
“I’ve got to be honest, we weren’t good enough to qualify. Even if we had all the luck in the world, we still didn’t have enough quality,” said Bellamy.
So the 45-year-old former Newcastle and Liverpool striker has added motivation to lead Wales to their second successive World Cup after Rob Page’s side bowed out at the group stage in Qatar in 2022.
‘Hopefully I can help the team’
Lawrence also spoke about what it is like to be back in the Wales squad under new boss Craig Bellamy.
“It feels like I’ve not been gone that long. When you’re back here everyone’s together, so it feels good,” he said.
“There’s a few younger ones than when I was last here, I’ve got a few more grey hairs, new staff, new manager. I’ve been watching the games and they’ve been brilliant so far.
“It’s just adapting now to how the manager wants me to play and the team to play, it’s just taking everything in.
“I’m four years older since I was last here. I’ve played in a lot of big games since I’ve been at Rangers and that’s only going to help you. Hopefully, I can help the team here.”
