The 2022 FIFA World Cup was the twenty second FIFA World Cup tournament and was held in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December 2022. It is the second FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Asia but the first to be staged in the Arab world.
- 1. Host selection
- 2. Qualifying
- 3. Play Off
- 4. Wales and the 2022 World Cup
- i. Qualification
- ii. Play Off
- iii. Finals
- 5. Wales players used during qualifying
- 6. Wales players used during the tournament
The bidding process to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups began in January 2009, and by the time of the FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zürich on 2 December 2010, five bids remained for the 2022 FIFA World Cup; Australia, Japan, Qatar, South Korea and the United States of America.
Australia's bid was eliminated in the first round having received just one vote. Japan and South Korea were eliminated in rounds two and three receiving two votes and five votes, respectivley.
In the final round of voting Qatar won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup beating the United States of America by 14 votes to 8.
All of FIFA's 2111 eligible nations applied to enter the qualifying process.
Hosts, Qatar, qualified automatically2 whilst the remaining 31 places, were allocated with 13 to Europe (UEFA), four to South America (CONMEBOL), three to the North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF), five to Africa (CAF) and four to Asia (AFC) whilst one qualifier from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and one each from CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and the AFC will be drawn into two intercontinental play off ties for the final two places.
All 55 UEFA members entered the European qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The teams were divided into ten groups; five groups of five teams and five group of six teams. The group winners would qualify autoimatically.
The 10 group runners-up would be joined by the best 2 Nations League group winners, based on the Nations League overall ranking, that finish outside the top two of their qualifying group.
These 12 teams will be drawn into three play-off paths, playing two rounds of single-match play-offs, semi-finals and final, with the 3 path winners qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Wales were placed in Pot 2 as second seeds, and were drawn in Group E alongside Belgium, Czechia, Belarus and Estonia.
Uefa qualifying Group E
| no. | date | score | scorers (wales) | venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24/03/2021 | Estonia 2-6 Czechia | Arena Lublin, Lublin (Poland) | WCQ | ||
| 670 | 24/03/2021 | Belgium 3-1 Wales | Wilson | Den Dreef, Leuven | WCQ |
| 27/03/2021 | Belarus 4-2 Estonia | Dinamo Stadium, Minsk | WCQ | ||
| 27/03/2021 | Czechia 1-1 Belgium | Eden Arena, Prague | WCQ | ||
| 30/03/2021 | Belgium 8-0 Belarus | Den Dreef, Leuven | WCQ | ||
| 672 | 30/03/2021 | Wales 1-0 Czechia | James | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | WCQ |
| 01/09/2021 | Estonia 2-5 Belgium | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn | WCQ | ||
| 01/09/2021 | Czechia 1-0 Belarus | Městský Stadion, Ostrava | WCQ | ||
| 680 | 05/09/2021 | Belarus 2-3 Wales | Bale (3, 2pen) | Centralniy Stadion, Kazan, Russia | WCQ |
| 05/09/2021 | Belgium 3-0 Czechia | Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels | WCQ | ||
| 681 | 08/09/2021 | Wales 0-0 Estonia | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | WCQ | |
| 08/09/2021 | Belarus 0-1 Belgium | Centralniy Stadion, Kazan, Russia | WCQ | ||
| 682 | 08/10/2021 | Czechia 2-2 Wales | Ramsey, James | Sinobo Stadium, Prague | WCQ |
| 08/10/2021 | Estonia 2-0 Belarus | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn | WCQ | ||
| 683 | 11/10/2021 | Estonia 0-1 Wales | Moore | A. Le Coq Stadion, Tallinn | WCQ |
| 08/09/2021 | Belarus 0-2 Czechia | Centralniy Stadion, Kazan, Russia | WCQ | ||
| 13/11/2021 | Belgium 3-1 Estonia | Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels | WCQ | ||
| 684 | 13/11/2021 | Wales 5-1 Belarus | Ramsey (2, 1 pen), N Williams, Davies, C Roberts | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | WCQ |
| 16/11/2021 | Czechia 2-0 Estonia | Letná Stadium, Prague | WCQ | ||
| 685 | 16/11/2021 | Wales 1-1 Belgium | Moore | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | WCQ |
| BEL | BLR | CZE | EST | WAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL | 8-0 | 3-0 | 3-1 | 3-1 | |
| BLR | 0-1 | 0-2 | 4-2 | 2-3 | |
| CZE | 1-1 | 1-0 | 2-0 | 2-2 | |
| EST | 2-5 | 2-0 | 2-6 | 0-1 | |
| WAL | 1-1 | 5-1 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
Group standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Belgium | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 6 | 20 |
| 2. | Wales | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 15 |
| 3. | Czechia | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 14 |
| 4. | Estonia | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 4 |
| 5. | Belarus | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 3 |
The 10 group runners-up were joined by the best 2 Nations League group winners, based on the Nations League overall ranking, who finished outside the top two of their qualifying group.
These 12 teams were drawn into three play-off paths, playing two rounds of single-match play-offs, semi-finals and final, with the 3 path winners qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Wales were drawn into Path A facing Austria at home in their semi final with the winners facing the winning team from the Scotland v Ukraine semi final.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Scotland v Ukraine semi final and the subsequent final was postponed until June.
| no. | date | score | scorers (wales) | venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 686 | 24/03/2022 | Wales 2-1 Austria | Bale (2) | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | WCQ |
| 01/06/2022 | Scotland 1-3 Ukraine | Hampden Park, Glasgow | WCQ | ||
| 689 | 05/06/2022 | Wales 1-0 Ukraine | Bale | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | WCQ |
Wales were placed in Pot 2 as second seeds, and were drawn in Group E alongside Belgium, Czechia, Belarus and Estonia.
Because of the Coronavirus pandemic the opening matches were played behind closed doors and despite taking an early lead against Belgium, Wales' opening match ended in a 1-3 defeat.
A fiery encounter at home to Czechia saw both teams reduced to 10 men. Patrik Schick was shown a straight red card early in the second half for raising his hand to the face of Connor Roberts before Roberts himself became the 18th player to be sent off when playing for Wales after receiving a second yellow card half an hour later.
Dan James' late header ensured a first win of the campaign for Wales as they prepared for the delayed Euro 2020 Championships.
The match against Belarus was played in Kazan, Russia due to UK and EU sanctions against Belarus. Rob Page had to contend with the withdrawl of Aaron Ramsey and Joe Rodon due to injury but also with the red tape withdrawls of Ethan Ampadu, Tyler Roberts and Brandon Cooper who were unable to secure a visa in time for the match.
Despite an early penalty from Gareth Bale, Belarus took a surprise lead with two goals in two minutes midway through the first half and it needed another penalty from Bale as well as a last gasp strike to ensure Wales at least travelled home with the three points.
Gareth Bale's hat-trick was the 16th Welsh hat-trick whilst Bale also became the first player to score two seperate hat-tricks for Wales.
Wales fans were allowed to return to the Cardiff City Stadium for the first time in the campaign for the home game against Estonia but were left frustrated by a goalless draw as Bale and Ampadu both hit the woodwork.
The draw was a blow to Wales' qualification hopes ahead of the double header away to Czechia and Estonia in October.
Aaron Ramsey, wearing the captain's armband in the absence of injured Gareth Bale, opened the scoring in Prague but, having seen Jakub Peśek draw the home side level, Danny Ward miscontrolled a back pass from Ramsey and passed the ball into his own net to give the home side the lead.
Dan James scored mid way through the second half to save Ward's blushes and secure a vital point for Wales.
Following Kieffer Moore's goal in an otherwise uneventful victory over Estonia, Wales knew that four points from the final two games in Cardiff would be enough to secure second place in the group.
Belarus were easily despatched 5-1 with Ben Davies amongst the scorers, netting his first international goal before Wales' incredible form against Belgium saw Kieffer Moore's goal secure the point required by Wales to take second spot and a Play Off place for the FIFA World Cup.
The 10 group runners-up were joined by the best 2 Nations League group winners, based on the Nations League overall ranking, who finished outside the top two of their qualifying group.
These 12 teams were drawn into three play-off paths, playing two rounds of single-match play-offs, semi-finals and final, with the 3 path winners qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Wales were drawn into Path A facing Austria at home in their semi final with the winners facing the winning team from the Scotland v Ukraine semi final.
Whilst Austria travelled to Cardiff for their semi final, the other semi final between Scotland and Ukraine and any subsequent final was postponed until June following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A brace from Gareth Bale was enough to send Wales through on an electric night in the Cardiff City Stadium.
Ukraine were finally able to travel to Hampden Park to face Scotland on 1 June winning 3-1 and setting up a Play Off final against Wales on 5 June.
The rescheduled match took place four days after Wales had travelled to Wroclaw to face Poland in the Nations League. Having rested the vast majority of his squad in Poland, Page was able to choose a full strength team to face Ukraine.
Gareth Bale flashed a free kick past Ukrainian goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan to score the only goal of the game, sparking scenes of wild jubilation amongst the 32,000 fans at Cardiff City Stadium.
Players used during qualifying
Wales used a total of 24 players during the qualifying campaign and play off matches. Danny Ward came closest to featuring in every single minute of every match of the qualifying group, but a last minute substitution in the penultimate game against Belarus meant he joined Dan James and Joe Morrell as having played some part of every game.
Dan James was the only player to feature in every match of the qualifying campaign as well as both play off matches.
The campaign so first caps for Mark Harris, against Belarus in Kazan and Sorba Thomas against Czechia in Prague. Gareth Bale also reached the milestone of 100 caps in the home game against Belarus whilst Ben Davies scored his first international goal in the same game.
Connor Roberts became the 17th player to be sent off when playing for Wales during the home game against Czechia.
| Player | BEL | CZH | BLR | EST | CZH | EST | BLR | BEL | AUT | UKR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Allen | 8 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | |
| Ethan Ampadu | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ||
| Gareth Bale | 88 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 45 | 90 | 83 | |||
| Rubin Colwill | 58 | |||||||||
| Ben Davies | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ||||
| Chris Gunter | 90 | 90 | 60 | 7 | ||||||
| Mark Harris | 32 | 27 | 19 | |||||||
| Wayne Hennessey | 1 | 90 | 90 | |||||||
| Dan James | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 76 | 90 | 88 | 90 |
| Brennan Johnson | 63 | 7 | 45 | 1 | 2 | 19 | ||||
| James Lawrence | 90 | 90 | 90 | |||||||
| Chris Mepham | 90 | 57 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 86 | 90 | 1 | ||
| Kieffer Moore | 2 | 33 | 90 | 71 | 90 | 71 | ||||
| Joe Morrell | 82 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 60 | 10 | 19 | 90 | ||
| Rhys Norrington-Davies | 1 | |||||||||
| Aaron Ramsey | 90 | 80 | 71 | 89 | 90 | 90 | ||||
| Connor Roberts | 90 | 77  | 30 | 83 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ||
| Tyler Roberts | 23 | 63 | 4 | 14 | ||||||
| Joe Rodon | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ||
| Sorba Thomas | 14 | 90 | ||||||||
| Danny Ward | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 89 | 90 | ||
| Jonathan Williams | 14 | 27 | 54 | |||||||
| Neco Williams | 90 | 90 | 76 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | |||
| Harry Wilson | 67 | 76 | 36 | 30 | 83 | 90 | 90 | 7 |
Wales and the 2022 World Cup
The draw for the final tournament was held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar on 1 April 2022. Due to the postponement of the Scotland v Ukraine semi final the draw was made prior to the completion of qualification. The two winners of the inter-confederation play-offs were also unknown at the time of the draw.
The three unknown qualifiers were placed in Pot 4 of the seeds with the UEFA Path A qualifiers being drawn in Group B alongside England, USA and Iran.
All of wales' group games would be played at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in the district of Al Rayyan.
Rob Page announced his 26-man World Cup Squad in Tylorstown Miners Institute on 9 November. With the World Cup being played in the European winter months enforcing a break in the major European Leagues' season. The Premier League season in England broke up on the 13 November with the Wales squad leaving Cardiff Airport two days later, arriving in Doha on 16 November.
The opening matches in Group B took place on 21 November with England thrashing Iran 6-2 at 1600 local time at the Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan. Wales' opening game against USA took place at 2200.
Having fallen behind to a Timothy Weah goal, Wales rallied in the second half and equalised through a Gareth Bale penalty to ensure a point in their first World Cup match since 1958.
Wales' second match against Iran was played in the stifling lunchtime heat with temperatures over 30℃ in the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium at kick off.
Iran came closest to opening the scoring, hitting the post twice in the opening minutes of the second half. However as the game wore on and with Wales pushing forward searching for the goal required to keep their World Cup hopes alive, a long ball left the Welsh defence exposed.
Goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey, rushed out of his area and in trying to clear the ball brought down Mehdi Taremi. Having initially been shown a yellow card, it was changed to a red after the referee was advised by the VAR to check on the pitchside monitor.
Hennessey became the 21st Welsh player to be sent off during a Wales international match and only the third goalkeeper to be sent off at a World Cup.
Any chance Wales had of qualifying for the knockout round was extinguished when England scored two goals in the space of a minute early in the second half of their final group match before finally winning 3-0.
The match against England proved to be the final international matches for Gareth Bale and Joe Allen, both of whom retired early in 2023.
Fifa 2022 World Cup Group B
| no. | date | score | scorers (wales) | venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21/11/2022 | England 6-2 Iran | Khalifa Internatiopnal Stadium, Al Rayyan | WC | ||
| 695 | 21/11/2022 | USA 1-1 Wales | Bale (pen) | Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan | WC |
| 697 | 29/11/2022 | Wales 0-3 England | Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan | WC | |
| 25/11/2022 | England 0-0 USA | Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor | WC | ||
| 696 | 25/11/2022 | Wales 0-2 Iran | Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan | WC | |
| 29/11/2022 | Iran 0-1 USA | Al Thumama Stadium, Doha | WC |
Group standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 7 |
| 2. | USA | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 3. | Iran | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
| 4. | Wales | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Players used during the finals
Wales used a total of 17 players during the finals. Chris Mepham and Joe Rodon were the only players to feature in every single minute of all three matches.
Wayne Hennessey became the 22nd player, and first goalkeeper, to be sent off when playing for Wales during the game against Iran.
| Player | USA | IRN | ENG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Allen | 13 | 81 | |
| Ethan Ampadu | 89 | 77 | 90 |
| Gareth Bale | 90 | 90 | 45 |
| Rubin Colwill | 9 | ||
| Ben Davies | 90 | 90 | 57 |
| Wayne Hennessey | 90 | 86 | |
| Dan James | 45 | 33 | 77 |
| Brennan Johnson | 11 | 33 | 45 |
| Chris Mepham | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Kieffer Moore | 45 | 90 | 90 |
| Joe Morrell | 1 | 33 | |
| Aaron Ramsey | 90 | 87 | 90 |
| Connor Roberts | 90 | 57 | 53 |
| Joe Rodon | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Sorba Thomas | 1 | ||
| Danny Ward | 3 | 90 | |
| Neco Williams | 90 | 90 | 36 |
| Harry Wilson | 89 | 57 | 13 |
| World Cup 2022 Squad |
|---|
|
1Of the 211 entries, Saint Lucia withdrew before their first match. North Korea withdrew from the qualifying round due to safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. American Samoa and Samoa both withdrew before the OFC draw. Tonga withdrew after the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami. Due to COVID-19 outbreaks in their squads, Vanuatu and Cook Islands also withdrew because of the travel restrictions.
2The AFC obliged Qatar to participate in the Asian qualifying stage as the first two rounds also acted as qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup
