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Wales’ 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign will be broadcast live on free-to-air television.
BBC Wales has announced it has secured an exclusive deal to broadcast the games, as Craig Bellamy’s side looks to reach a second consecutive world cup finals.
The deal has been agreed with European football’s governing body UEFA, and will include 13 live games in total.
Coverage begins on March 22, when Wales host Kazakhstan in their first qualifying match, before travelling to North Macedonia three days later.
Wales also take on Belgium and Liechtenstein in the qualifying campaign, with a place at next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States up for grabs.
The expanded format will see 48 teams qualify for the event, with Europe gaining an extra three qualifying spots as a result.
The qualifiers will be broadcast in English on BBC, and in Welsh on S4C – with live commentaries on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.
However, Wales’ Wembley friendly against England in October is not part of the deal, with the broadcast rights picked up elsewhere.
Rhuanedd Richards, director at BBC Cymru Wales, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve signed a deal to bring the action from Wales’ matches to our screens.
“Craig Bellamy and the Cymru squad are about to start a brand new campaign and I’m so pleased that BBC Cymru Wales will be with them all the way, bringing international football to fans across the nation.”
Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), said: “As we approach an exciting World Cup qualification campaign with Craig Bellamy at the helm, the FAW is looking forward to working with BBC Cymru Wales, on their free-to-air coverage of the Cymru men’s national team.”
He added: “It’s fantastic that every Welsh fan will be able to watch our matches for free via the BBC’s fantastic coverage.”
Qualifying fixtures
- Wales v Kazakhstan – Saturday March 22
- North Macedonia v Wales – Tuesday March 25
- Wales v Liechtenstein – Friday June 6
- Belgium v Wales – Monday June 9
- Kazakhstan v Wales – Thursday September 4
- Wales v Belgium – Monday October 13
- Liechtenstein v Wales – Saturday November 15
- Wales v North Macedonia – Tuesday November 18
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