The King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels is set to host a crucial World Cup 2026 qualifier between Belgium and Wales. This Group J match sees Craig Bellamy's Wales looking to extend their lead and maintain their strong start to the campaign.
Wales currently sit atop Group J, buoyed by two wins and a draw in their opening three matches. Their most recent victory was a comfortable 3-0 win against Liechtenstein. Goals from Joe Rodon, Harry Wilson, and Kieffer Moore secured the win and extended Craig Bellamy's unbeaten run as Wales head coach to an impressive nine games.
Belgium, on the other hand, have played only one game in the qualification campaign so far, a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia. This result will have undoubtedly spurred Bellamy and his team, who will be keen to capitalize on any perceived vulnerability in the Belgian ranks.
The historical context between these two nations adds another layer of intrigue to this encounter. Kevin De Bruyne famously quipped that he was "bored" of facing Wales, highlighting the frequency of their meetings over the past decade. However, beneath the surface of that comment lies a recognition of the challenges Wales has posed to Belgium.
Despite Belgium's high world ranking and abundance of talent, Wales has enjoyed periods of dominance in their rivalry. A significant moment was Gareth Bale's goal in 2015, which secured a Euro qualifying victory in Cardiff. Then, at Euro 2016, Wales stunned Belgium with a 3-1 victory in the quarter-finals. Joe Ledley, who played in both those wins, considers the Euro 2016 match to be one of the greatest in Welsh football history, suggesting that Wales is somewhat of a "bogey team" for Belgium.
Since those landmark victories for Wales, Belgium has asserted its dominance, winning twice on home soil and drawing twice in Wales. Monday night’s game presents an opportunity for Wales to challenge that recent trend.
Bellamy faces selection issues, with Neco Williams and Daniel James unavailable due to injury and illness. However, young Cardiff City player Ronan Kpakio has been included in the matchday squad. Dylan Lawlor has also been called up to the squad.
The match is being broadcast live on BBC One Wales and streamed on BBC iPlayer in the UK. Irfan Peljto will be the referee for this highly anticipated match.
