Wales, aiming to book their tickets to the Qatar World Cup, will host a play-off semi-final against Austria at the Cardiff City stadium on Thursday.
Rob Page’s men finished runners-up in Group E, five points behind Belgium and only one ahead of the Czech Republic.
Despite Austria finishing fourth in Group F they guaranteed their play-off spot as a Uefa Nations League group winner.
However they are winless in their last three games against Wales, only drawing once, and have not beaten them since 2005.
Either Scotland or Ukraine await in the Path A final for the winners of this match. Scotland vs Ukraine was originally scheduled for Thursday 24 March but Russia’s invasion led to the tie being postponed until June.
How to watch Wales vs Austria
- Date: Thursday 24 March
- Kick-off: 7.45pm
- TV Channel: Sky Sports Main Event
- Live stream: Now TV
- Prediction: 1-1
Wales team news
Gareth Bale is expected to feature in Thursday night’s game despite missing Real Madrid’s El Clasico defeat on Sunday.
“He didn’t feel well yesterday after training. He tried this morning but he wasn’t up to playing,” manager Carlo Ancelotti said after the 4-0 loss.
“He’s now going to join up with his national team and they’ll decide whether he plays or not.”
Fitness has always been a concern for the 32-year-old who has only played 270 minutes this season, appearing in two matches since his last international appearance in November.
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How do the World Cup play-offs work?
There are three “paths” (A, B and C) which hold four teams each, including runners-up from qualifying or one of two best Uefa Nations League group winners to not have finished in the top two.
The paths will each have a semi-final and then a final to determine who goes to Qatar.
Poland were given a bye into Path B’s final against Sweden or Czech Republic following Russia’s exclusion from sporting competitions following their invasion of Ukraine.
World Cup play-off games
Semi-finals:
- Portugal vs Turkey, Thursday 24 March, 7.45pm
- Sweden vs Czech Republic, Thursday 24 March, 7.45pm
- Italy vs North Macedonia, Thursday 24 March, 7.45pm
Finals:
- Poland vs Sweden/Czech Republic, Tuesday 29 March, 7.45pm
- Portugal/Turkey vs Italy/North Macedonia, Tuesday 29 March, 7.45pm
- Wales/Austria vs Scotland/Ukraine, date tbc
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