Wales omit captain Ramsey from World Cup play-off squad
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- Aaron Ramsey has been omitted from Wales' 26-man World Cup play-off squad, with manager Craig Bellamy stating the 35-year-old 'hasn't played competitive football in seven months' and is currently without a club after leaving Pumas in December.
- Ramsey last featured for Wales in September 2024, and the source says his hopes of a fourth major tournament 'look increasingly remote' despite his stated desire to play at this summer's World Cup.
- Wales face Bosnia-Herzegovina in their play-off semi-final at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday 26 March, with the winners hosting either Italy or Northern Ireland in the final five days later for a place at the finals.
- Craig Bellamy is also without defender Ben Davies (broken ankle), striker Kieffer Moore, and West Brom centre-back Chris Mepham (both hamstring injuries), calling up Wrexham goalkeeper Danny Ward, QPR left-back Rhys Norrington-Davies, and Rangers forward Rabbi Matondo as replacements.
- Harry Wilson is set to captain Wales in Davies' absence after leading the side for the first time in November, when his hat-trick in a 7-1 win over North Macedonia secured home advantage for the semi-final.
- The World Cup play-off winners will enter Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar.
- Ashley Phillips, the Spurs defender on loan at Stoke, was not included; Bellamy confirmed Wales remain 'active' on trying to convince the England-eligible centre-back to switch allegiance, adding 'that's for another time.'
Why it matters: Ramsey's omission, combined with injuries to Davies, Moore, and Mepham, strips Bellamy's squad of its most experienced spine ahead of the 26 March semi-final. A 35-year-old without a club since December will likely miss a fourth major tournament, with Harry Wilson now set to lead a notably younger Wales side.
