Wales vs Kazakhstan LIVE: Rabbi Matondo caps off impressive Welsh performance with first international goal
Wales 3-1 Kazakhstan: Craig Bellamy’s side got off to a perfect start to their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup
Wales kicked off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a testing but morale-boosting victory over Kazakhstan in Cardiff.
Craig Bellamy’s men opened the scoring with less than 10 minutes on the clock as Dan James latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area after a short corner play. He whipped a shot at goal and a deflection took it past the goalkeeper to send the Red Dragons in front.
Despite dominating play and possession they conceded an equaliser as Connor Roberts gave away a penalty for handling the ball in the area. Kazakhstan’s captain Askhat Tagybergen scored the spot kick but Karl Darlow almost kept it out only for the ball to spin back over the line.
The fans in the stadium were tense but Ben Davies eased their concerns with a headed goal less than two minutes into the second half and Rabbi Matondo scored his first international goal in the 90th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
Relive the updates from the Cardiff City Stadium below:
Kazakhstan's home nations record
Kazakhstan have won three of their last four meetings with the British home nations, beating Scotland in March 2019 and winning home and away against Northern Ireland in June and September 2023.
Bellamy on facing England before Belgium
“I liked the opposition, England, because we have got Belgium,” said Craig Bellamy, about the scheduled friendly with the Three Lions later this year.
“I needed the high intensity, but I didn’t need it on a Friday (three days before the Belgium game).
“I needed England to work on a Thursday and we didn’t want to travel, so ideally it was to be a home game.
“But I wanted to keep the pitch OK as well because of the importance of the Belgium game.
“So, the high intensity and quality of the opposition without travelling, England was perfect.”
Craig Bellamy says England friendly ideal to help Wales qualify for World Cup
Wales boss Craig Bellamy says playing a friendly against England later this year is ideal to help them qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Wales meet England at Wembley on October 9, just four days before hosting Group J favourites Belgium in a World Cup qualifier.
Belgium’s trip to Cardiff City Stadium is expected to be pivotal to Welsh hopes of topping the section and qualifying for their second successive World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Craig Bellamy says England friendly ideal to help Wales qualify for World Cup
Kazakhstan line-up
Kazakhstan XI: Zarutskiy, Tapalov, Bystrov, Marochkin, Alip, Vorogovskiy; Chesnokov, Tagybergen, Muzhikov, Samorodov; Zhaksylykov
Subs: Pokatilov, Seisen, Astanov, Zhumakhanov, Zhaksybayev, Kenzhebek, Zhagorov, Zhukov, Aimbetov, Satpayev, Orazov, Mukhamed
New rivals
This will be the first meeting between Wales and Kazakhstan at men’s senior level.
Kazakhstan are ranked 110 in the world, 81 places below Wales, and were relegated from the second tier of the Nations League in November with only one point from six games.
But Wales should beware complacency: Kazakhstan won six of their 10 Euro 2024 qualifiers and beat Northern Ireland home and away, as well as upsetting Denmark and Finland.
Tuchel on facing Wales in October
England boss Thomas Tuchel said: “The games against Senegal and Wales will present good challenges for us against two very different opponents.
“Facing a strong African team in a passionate city with rich football heritage and then a derby match at the iconic Wembley; two big occasions that can only help us on the road to the World Cup.”
England to host Wales at Wembley as Thomas Tuchel builds towards World Cup
Thomas Tuchel’s new-look England will host Wales in a Wembley friendly this October.
The neighbours have met on 104 occasions, most recently during the 2022 World Cup group stage, and will go toe-to-toe once more on October 9.
The Football Association has also announced a friendly against Senegal – another nation England faced in Qatar – at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on June 10.
England to host Wales at Wembley as Thomas Tuchel builds towards World Cup
Wales line-up to face Kazakhstan
Wales XI: Darlow; Roberts, Williams, Rodon, Davies; Sheehan, Brooks; Johnson, Cullen, Thomas; James
Who is the number one?
Bellamy rotated his goalkeepers during the Nations League campaign with Danny Ward and Karl Darlow playing three games each.
Neither Ward nor Darlow are starting at their respective clubs, Leicester and Leeds, but surely the time is right for Bellamy to choose a number one for Wales’ World Cup adventure.
Overcoming injuries
Wales have been dealt a cruel double blow with injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson, arguably their two most important players.
Wilson scored in four of Wales’ six Nations League games and Ampadu’s influence is massive in a central midfield are where Bellamy is short of options.
Skipper Aaron Ramsey is also absent with hamstring issues that have plagued him in recent times.
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