WC Qualifiers: Wales hold Belgium to a draw, seal seeded playoffs berth

Wales, who have only qualified for a single FIFA World Cup in their history, took a massive step towards entering the next tournament in Qatar when they held the world’s number one ranked team Belgium to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday and booked a berth in the European playoffs. 

Although numerically Wales were already guaranteed a playoff spot owing to their success in the UEFA Nations League, the point against Belgium ensured the second spot in Group E, despite the third-place Czech Republic’s win over Estonia, and crucial home advantage in March’s play-off semi-finals.

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Wales will discover their semi-final opponents when the draw is made on Friday, November 26. However, even sealing a playoff berth was a source of great jubilation as Wales are now closer to qualifying for a World Cup than they have been since their only other appearance in 1958.

Meanwhile, unbeaten in the group, Belgium finished as the group toppers with 20 points from their eight matches. 

The 12-team playoffs will decide who joins the 10 European qualifying group winners at the tournament. The playoff draw will include runners-up in the 10 groups plus two group winners from the UEFA Nations League.

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In the game, Belgium opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Kevin De Bruyne’s elegant 20-yard curling effort. Keeper Danny Ward couldn’t keep the shot out and Belgium were leading against a Gareth Bale-less Wales side. 

Although Belgium dominated possession, Wales targeted the counterattacks to breach the Belgian defence and in the 32nd minute, they caught the World Cup 2018 semi-finalists napping. Set up by Leeds United winger Dan James, Kieffer Moore equalised later in the first half for the hosts. 

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The match was more balanced after the interval as Wales pushed hard toward the end but could not find a cutting edge.

Late in the game, Wales had an opportunity to snatch a win when Neco Williams’ vicious swerving shot was well saved by Koen Casteels.