Craig Bellamy thinks Wales would be a “massive asset” to the World Cup if they qualified for the tournament.

Wales are going through the play-offs in a bid to earn their place at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in their semi-final on Thursday.

The winners of the tie will face either Italy or Northern Ireland at home next Tuesday for a place at the World Cup.

The Dragons appeared at the 2022 edition – their first appearance at the finals since 1958 – going through the play-offs on that occasion, beating Austria and Ukraine.

Wales have won five of their last six home competitive matches, scoring 20 goals and netting at least two goals in each of their last five on home soil.

Their 7-1 win over North Macedonia in November was the first time they had scored seven in a game since October 1978 in a 7-0 win over Malta.

Bellamy does not doubt that his team deserve to be at the World Cup, proving their credentials under the former midfielder.

“I definitely carry good and bad from my [playing] career, but this journey now into coaching is a totally new and different experience,” Bellamy said.

“I look at it that way now with this group, and I honestly feel we should be at this tournament.

Next up:

A @FIFAWorldCup play-off semi-final in the capital pic.twitter.com/6mXLLzpxll

— Wales (@Cymru) March 25, 2026

“Now we’re going to have to work hard to get there, but I honestly believe we’ll be a massive asset to this World Cup. Our players will be, our fans will be, and our coaching team will be. We’ll add to this.

“We’re in the A Nations League and play-offs consistently. We’re a serious football nation, and we’ve proved that over the last 12 odd years. We have two games now to keep this marching.”

Wales are winless in all four of their matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina (D2 L2). They have only faced Serbia (including games as Yugoslavia, 13), Netherlands (10) and Sweden (seven) more often without a win.

But a key figure for them has been Harry Wilson, who has been involved in 17 goals in his last 20 internationals for his country (11 goals, six assists), including 12 in his last 12 (nine goals, three assists).

Wilson has been touted as the potential long-term replacement for Gareth Bale, but the 29-year-old has never aimed to fill his shoes.

“We can’t replace Bale,” Wilson told BBC Sport Wales. “He was our best ever player.

“He carried us through games, he got us to major tournaments, and the performances he put in, in those tournaments, were incredible.

“I never saw it as ‘I have to replace Bale’, I just knew along with the other attacking players, we’ve got massive boots to fill, a big void to fill. As a collective, we have to do that.

“I’m really happy with the way I’ve played and my numbers since Gaz left. But it definitely wasn’t the case of me replacing him, because no one can do that.”