Phil Sumbler5th June 2022 is the day that Welsh football fans everywhere will be putting into their diaries as the date that history could be made and a place at the final stages of the World Cup confirmed.
Robert Page’s side have been waiting to find out their fate since they sealed a victory over Austria in Cardiff last month to reach the final of their World Cup play off path.
However the postponement of the Scotland v Ukraine clash at Hampden Park due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has meant that Wales had to put their plans on hold until the playing of that particular match.
That has been confirmed today as being taking part on 1st June with the confirmed date in Cardiff now four days later on 5th June.
Wales’ Group A Nations League games have been rescheduled around the final.
Their opening game, away against Poland, is now set to take place on 1 June.
Wales host the Netherlands in Cardiff on Wednesday, 8 June, and then welcome Belgium to the Welsh capital three days later.
The last match of the international window is the reverse fixture against the Netherlands, which will now take place in Rotterdam on 14 June.
Football Association of Wales [FAW] President Steve Williams said the FAW were sympathetic to fans who will have seen travel plans disrupted by the fixture changes.
“Following today’s announcement from Fifa and Uefa about the World Cup play-off final and Nations League matches in June, whilst we are pleased to see the matter resolved, we have absolute sympathy with our fans and the inconvenience this has caused.
“The FAW lobbied both governing bodies to limit the disruption as much as possible for our fans, whilst recognising the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in through no fault of all parties involved.”
Should Wales beat the victors of the Scotland v Ukraine game it will seal a first appearance at a World Cup Finals since 1958.
Five games in two weeks plus travelling is a big ask .However,everything centres on world cup qualification .I don,t usually favour tactical team selections but with such a tight schedule and the huge importance of the world cup we simply have to get our best team fit and fresh for that game.Everything else takes second place .