But the Wales head coach has warned the gap will only be closed if the squad make full use of the next two years after being drawn alongside England, Tonga and Zimbabwe in Pool F.
England – who thrashed Wales by a record 68-14 scoreline when the teams last met back in March - are currently third in the rankings, with Wales a distant 11th, a massive 16 points behind.
Wales and England were paired at the same stage in 2015, when a dramatic Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts’ early exit.
Twelve years later, Tandy insists the fixture remains an opportunity that needs no extra hype.
“Playing in a World Cup is unbelievable but playing England at the World Cup in Australia… what a place to go and play as well,” he said. “It is going to be amazing.”
READ MORE: It’s Them Again . . . Wales Get England in Best Draw Possible at Rugby World Cup
Wales enter the next World Cup cycle outside the elite bracket, but Tandy says improving their world ranking is a clear priority, even if he is reluctant to attach specific numbers to what progress might look like.
"Yeah, definitely,” he said when asked whether Wales could be significantly higher by 2027. “The aim is definitely to be higher without a shadow of a doubt.
“We want to be higher but I think the only way we are going to do that is through performance and being better, growing as a team, adapting and learning from the autumn as well. There are lots of good development pieces and lots of bits we need to grow and grow fast.
“So, for me we definitely want to be higher but can I put a number on it? No, I don't think I can do that right now. For me it is about being better and getting up those rankings."
Tandy believes Wales’ form across the autumn provided glimpses of what they can achieve, even if the scorelines suggested otherwise.
With approximately 20 Test matches remaining before Wales begin their World Cup campaign, Tandy insists they have both the time and the fixtures to build cohesion and belief.
“It's just exciting,” he said. “Those opportunities and how we get more out of those games is exciting for us.
“I think those 20 games you give certain individuals 20 more caps and if you get cohesion in and around the team that does add up. Again, going through the Six Nations and more high-profile games hopefully there will be lots of big moments for us to come through as well.
“We saw moments of it through the autumn but we need to see more bigger moments back-to-back. There's plenty of time for us to be where we want to be come the World Cup."
READ MORE: Wales Should Make World Cup Knockout Stages . . . as Draw Will Include New Round of 16
That sense of time being on Wales’ side is crucial. Tandy is convinced the core of the current squad will form the basis of the 2027 team — but he warned against assuming that places are already secured.
Wales have blooded a significant number of younger players over the past 12 months.
"I don't think you can limit it,” he said. “That's where the age and the numbers we've got you'll see a large proportion of this group take us forward.
“I think that is probably pushing us on. When they go back now it is not just about going through the motions — we have to grow every game.
“Every moment and every training session there's an opportunity to be better, but again it is still open-ended. There's certain players you know that if they stay fit and keep where they are going they are going to be in that. But I don't think you can rule anyone out.
“You see bolters for Lions tours and you see people coming into the mix late. We've had some young boys who have had their first taste of international rugby who have been in camp. It is about making sure they grow and not standing still because we can't afford to do that.”
The fixture most neutrals will circle first is the England match. Wales actually lead the head-to-head 2–1 across the tournament’s history.
Asked whether that record could be improved, Tandy added: “It would be great to get that advantage even higher!”
