Wales kept their slim hopes of directly qualifying for the 2026 World Cup alive with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Liechtenstein.
With Craig Bellamy watching from the stands as he served a touchline ban, Wales unsurprisingly dictated proceedings in Vaduz.
Nathan Broadhead had a goal disallowed by VAR in the first half, but clear-cut chances were few and far between for the visitors despite their dominance.
But Jordan James finally broke the deadlock just after the hour mark, and his goal proved to be enough to keep Wales level on points with second-placed North Macedonia in Group J.
Wales will host North Macedonia on Tuesday in their final group stage match. Both teams will at least progress to the play-offs, with their positions secured courtesy of their UEFA Nations League rankings. The winner will qualify directly if group leaders Belgium, two points clear at the top, somehow suffer a shock defeat to Liechtenstein.
It took until the 23rd minute for Wales to create a significant chance, Broadhead firing over the bar after Jordan James had chipped the ball into his path.
Two minutes later, Broadhead was celebrating what appeared to be the opening goal, calmly converting from 12 yards after a Sorba Thomas corner fell to the striker.
However, a prolonged VAR check wiped away his effort, and frustration grew for Wales 11 minutes into the second half when Daniel James hit the post from Thomas’ left-wing cross.
But Jordan James allowed Wales to breathe a sigh of relief by turning into the roof of the net from point-blank range, the midfielder putting Wales ahead after Neco Williams and Daniel James combined neatly down the right before the latter delivered a low cross for his namesake to meet at the far post.
Lewis Koumas spurned a gilt-edged chance for Wales late on before Sandro Wolfinger wasted an opportunity to equalise and score Liechtenstein’s first goal in qualifying as Bellamy’s men claimed a victory that should have been much more comfortable.
Of greater concern than the performance will be bookings for Jordan James and Ethan Ampadu, with those cautions meaning they will miss the finale with North Macedonia.
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Liechtenstein team vs Wales
Liechtenstein starting XI: Buchel; Meier, Malin, Goppel; N. Hasler, Luchinger, A. Hasler, See, Zund; Luque-Notaro, Salanovic.
Liechtenstein substitutes: Beck, Foser, Kranz, Oberwaditzer, Ospelt, Pizzi, Saglam, Schlegel, Weissenhofer, F. Wolfinger, S. Wolfinger.
Wales team vs Liechtenstein
Wales starting XI: Darlow, Williams, Rodon, Lawlor, Dasilva; Thomas, J. James, Ampadu; D. James; Broadhead, Harris.
Wales substitutes: Brooks, J. Colwill, R. Colwill, Cullen, A. Davies, I. Davies, Johnson, King, Koumas, Kpakio, Norrington-Davies, Sheehan.
2026 World Cup playoffs dates
The top team from each of the 12 European Qualifier groups proceeds automatically to the finals, which will be expanded to 48 teams.
The 12 runners-up in each group will join four Nations League teams in the two-legged play-off ties, which will be drawn from pots based on teams’ records during the campaign and take place on March 26 and 31 2026.
When is the draw for the 2026 World Cup finals?
The draw for the World Cup finals will take place on December 5 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, with the ceremony starting at 17:00 GMT (12:00 ET/ 09:00 PT).
The tournament runs from June 11 until July 19 2026.
