World ranking: 34th World Cup qualifying group: Second behind Belgium Last World Cup: 2022
If ever there was a way to secure a home play-off in style, Wales delivered it – thrashing North Macedonia 7–1 in Cardiff to seal second place in Group J.
Harry Wilson captained his country for the first time on the night and marked the occasion with a hat-trick.
After two defeats to group winners Belgium, Craig Bellamy’s side had to fight for second place.
A 1–0 win at Liechtenstein, followed by an emphatic victory over North Macedonia, secured a home play-off for Wales, who also had a back-up route by topping their Nations League group.
There’s no shortage of recent history between the Republic of Ireland and Wales.
The most memorable moment for the boys in green came in 2017, when James McClean scored the winner to secure a 2018 World Cup play-off for the Republic at the expense of the Welsh.
They’ve also met four times in the Nations League since, Wales winning three of those with one draw.
