Wales : Nations League, World Cup qualifiers and dates explained
Sunday, 17th Nov 2024 11:36 by Liam Walters
The Nations League has provided football fans with some interesting focus as opposed to meaningless friendlies which Wales especially find themselves playing during international breaks. The lack of understanding regards the Nations League (and it’s a bit of a minefield) has seen interest wavering at times.
In fact it’s not a minefield, it’s nothing beyond complete and utter madness.
However, this afternoon we can look at the state of play in League B, group 4, the group Wales are contesting. Quite simply now, Wales must not lose on Tuesday at home against Iceland. If they do, then it’s a League C play off for relegation, as Iceland go second in the group. If Wales win or draw it’s a play off for promotion to League A or remain in League B. The first legs will be played on the 20th March, and the second legs will be played on the 23rd March 2025. The winners either stay in group A or are promoted to Group A. In Wales case, as stated Wales need a draw or a win against Iceland. This is of course is taking for granted that Türkiye beat Montenegro on Tuesday, if they don’t (they lose) and Wales beat Iceland, then Wales win the group and go straight through to the quarter finals of the competition proper.
UEFA have seriously made this complicated even at Nations League stage. Why ? Well, the World Cup group draw in December to designate which countries play in which group is seeded. Wales are currently in pot 2. Those qualification ties start in March next year, but if Wales are in the promotion play offs to League A they will not start World Cup group qualification until June or even September 2025.
Quite simply now, and the bookies indicate this. If Montenegro hold Türkiye to a draw of any score and Wales beat Iceland by four or more goals, Wales win the group. If Wales win by three goals then the most complicated goal difference rulings come into play. Honestly, you really don’t want to know unless it happens. It’s nuts !
To make it even more complicated there are World Cup places ‘potentially’ on offer via another set of rules. Anyway, now that’s as clear as mud it’s quite simple, Wales must score as many goals as possible at home to Iceland and hope Türkiye lose or draw. The chances of that happening ? Pretty low, but in any event a Wales win and a complete run undefeated since Craig Bellamy took over is a success. To get to a March play off against a League A team with the chance of promotion to the big boys league is success. No matter which side of positive or negative you sit on.
Impacts on European Championship qualifiers have not been added.
Artwork by Swansea Independent
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