World Cup 2026: Wales Head to Brussels with Tails Up

Belgium vs Wales

It’s a new era for Wales with a (relatively) new boss, a new broom and new belief – but will it be enough? Furthermore, is Craig Bellamy the man who can emulate what some of his recent predecessors have achieved and guide Cymru to a major international tournament? This game will certainly be the first real test of his mettle since being appointed as replacement for Robert Page 11 months ago.

Cardiff-born Bellamy, who won 78 Wales caps and captained the side between 2007-2010 but never had the fortune to play in a major tournament for his country, has made a very good start to his international managerial career.

But with respect to the likes of Iceland, Turkey, and Kazakhstan, taking on the nation ranked eighth best in the world in a World Cup 2026 qualifier is another matter altogether

 

Talking Points

There’ll be no surprise among SBOTOP’s knowledgeable football fans that hosts Belgium are favourites to create World Cup 2026 highlights. They come into the game though on the back of a disappointing result after being held to a 1-1 draw on Friday by North Macedonia in their opening qualifier.

Ezgjan Alioski netted a stunning volley four minutes from time to cancel out an opener from Maxim De Cuyper, who put Belgium ahead just before the half-hour mark, capitalizing smartly on a rebounded save off Romelu Lukaku’s close-range shot.

Wales enjoyed a far more productive evening in what was their third qualifier.

They were initially frustrated by the dogged, largely part-time opponents of Liechtenstein, without a competitive win for five years.

Yet Joe Rodon headed in his first international goal to break the deadlock in Cardiff before Harry Wilson nodded in his fifth goal in seven games for his country and Kieffer Moore struck a third.

The only sour note of the evening was an injury to defender Neco Williams, who left the field on a stretcher after appearing to land awkwardly while attempting to cross the ball.

Bellamy, who announced a 27-man squad for these qualifiers, can call upon the likes of Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson, as well as Connor Roberts, Karl Darlow, Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James, and Chris Mepham, who secured promotion to the English Premier League.

You won’t need me to tell you that the days are long gone when Wales could call upon the likes of Mark Hughes, Ian Rush, Kevin Ratcliffe, Ryan Giggs and, more recently, Gareth Bale with whom there was an unbreakable bond.

However, in Europa League matchwinner Johnson, they do have another potential top talent and a talisman with the ability to take over the offensive cudgels for Cymru.

Belgium have a more talented pool to select from, but perhaps now is a good time to travel to Brussels to take on the Group J favourites.

With the group winners qualifying directly for next summer’s 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. Wales know a positive result in the Belgian capital can go a long way top making their dream come true.

 

History

Since meeting for the first time in 1949, these two nations have been evenly matched. Indeed, Belgium have seven triumphs, the Welsh five wins, and there have been a further five draws.

The most famous game of all, however – and the only one outside of international friendlies and qualifying – was fairly recent. It was the quarterfinals of Euro 2016 when unfancied Wales fought back from a goal down to record a memorable 3-1 success over the Belgians in Lille.

On that occasion, Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu, and Sam Vokes sealed what some regard as the greatest moment in Welsh football history.

World Cup qualifying and Nations League clashes have been a fairly regular occurrence for the Belgians and the Welsh in recent years and their most recent meeting on Belgium turf resulted in a 2-1 home win in September 2022 when Kevin De Bruyne and Michy Batshuayi scored first half goals before Moore replied.

Their last World Cup qualifying meeting was also on Belgium soil in 2021 when Wilson’s early goal was cancelled out by De Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard, and Lukaku.

 

Betting Tip

At the time of writing, our full array of World Cup 2026 betting odds have yet to be published.

I have made my mind up though and, while I think Wales will push them close, am opting for a confident tip of Asian Handicap Belgium -1.25 @ 1.90.

   

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