Wales are leaving no stone unturned as they prepare for one of the most demanding assignments of their World Cup qualifying campaign – a daunting trip to Kazakhstan.
Craig Bellamy’s men face a 6,000-mile round journey to Astana on September 4, with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) involving players in detailed planning sessions to help them cope with the unique hurdles the fixture presents.
Travelling to the vast Central Asian nation – which borders both Russia and China – means overcoming multiple obstacles.
Avoiding Russian airspace has complicated travel arrangements, while the four-hour time difference, potentially high temperatures, and an artificial pitch at the Astana Arena all add to the challenge.
FAW chief executive Noel Mooney underlined the scale of the task.
Mooney said: “This particular trip is a difficult one for players mentally. It is challenging.
“You have to prepare meticulously for it in so many areas – travel, the time difference and impact on body clocks, the food and conditions being just some of them – and we spent a lot of time with the players before the campaign started.
“The leadership team – the likes of Ben (Davies), Harry (Wilson), Connor (Roberts) and Rambo (Aaron Ramsey) – have looked at the different logistics, and it’s the first time they have done that.
“We really went into a lot of detail with them about how do we make this easier for them.”*
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Wales currently sit second in Group J with seven points from four matches.
Wins at home against Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein, a draw away to North Macedonia, and a narrow 4-3 defeat in Belgium leave Bellamy’s team well-placed to push for qualification.
North Macedonia lead the standings with eight points, while Belgium have collected four points from their opening two fixtures.
Only the group winners secure automatic passage to the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, though Wales’ strong UEFA Nations League record last year means a play-off spot next March is almost guaranteed.
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Mooney stressed that the FAW are already considering the bigger picture.
“We’ve already done our planning for the World Cup, we have to look at different things,” he added.
“The team is working very closely with FIFA and there’s actually a trip planned for the USA very soon to look at base camps.
“We work off a catalogue list, but at the same time there are still dependencies.
“(If you get there) it’s how you qualify, whether you get through by winning the group or through the play-offs and what region you are in, but we’ve been well ahead of the curve in terms of planning for the finals.”
Bellamy will confirm his squad for the Kazakhstan clash and the friendly against Canada in Swansea on September 9 when he announces his selections on Thursday.
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