Aaron Ramsey Left Out Again As Wales Name Squad For World Cup Play-Offs
Captain Aaron Ramsey has been left out of the Wales squad for this month’s World Cup play-offs, raising fresh uncertainty over his international future. The 35-year-old has 86 appearances for Wales and 21 goals but has not played for his country since September 2024.
Aaron Ramsey Not Included As Lack Of Club Football And Injuries Bite
Ramsey, who has been without a club since leaving Pumas in December and did not feature for the Mexican side after September, was omitted from the 26-man selection for the play-off path. A combination of a run of injuries and a prolonged absence from first-team football has meant he has not added to his Wales caps since last autumn, casting doubt on his hopes of representing the nation at a potential fourth major tournament.
Wales manager Craig Bellamy has said he will not push Ramsey on his future, and with the captaincy previously worn by Ben Davies during Ramsey’s absence, leadership duties are expected to fall to another senior player for the forthcoming ties.
Bellamy Names Replacements; Cabango, Cullen And Bolton Pair Included
The Wales squad features several changes to cover injured players and bolster options for the crucial fixtures. Defender Ben Davies, striker Kieffer Moore and centre-back Chris Mepham are all missing through injury and have been replaced in the 26-man squad by Wrexham goalkeeper Danny Ward, left-back Rhys Norrington Davies—on loan at Queens Park Rangers from Sheffield United—and Rangers forward Rabbi Matondo.
Ben Cabango and Liam Cullen have both been named in the Wales squad for this month’s play-offs, and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Josh Sheehan is also included after featuring regularly under Bellamy. The wider squad list features players from a mix of clubs to cover every position for the high-stakes ties.
With Davies injured and unavailable to wear the armband, Fulham attacking midfielder Harry Wilson—who captained Wales for the first time in November and scored a hat-trick in a 7-1 win that secured home advantage for the semi-final—looks likely to skipper the side against Bosnia.
Play-Off Schedule And Stakes
Wales will host Bosnia-Herzegovina at Cardiff City Stadium in the World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday, 26 March. The winners will then host either Italy or Northern Ireland in the final five days later, with the victorious team securing a place at the World Cup. The play-off path’s winner will join the tournament field and would be placed in Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.
The selection decisions leave Ramsey’s international prospects uncertain while Bellamy prepares a squad blending experience and fresh faces for two decisive fixtures that will determine Wales’ presence at the summer finals.
