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The team's attention are squarely on the upcoming World Cup playoff fixture as they await discovering their semi-final and potential final rivals.

After finished second in their qualification group following a dominant 7-1 victory over North Macedonia – their largest win since 1978 – the side will host the semi-final encounter on home soil.

They will face either the Albanian side, Bosnia, the Kosovan team or Republic of Ireland in that fixture on 26 March.

Former Wales striker Rob Earnshaw believes the Welsh squad will welcome a tie against any opponent after their most recent result at Cardiff City Stadium.

"I know Craig Bellamy, we were teammates with him and his mindset is 'give us anyone, we're ready'," Earnshaw said.

"Many fans were saying last night, 'do we actually want Republic of Ireland as it's that local atmosphere?'. In my view many supporters were hesitant. But personally, that could be amazing.

"It's one of those, yes, we'll take Kosovo or the Bosnians and Albania are decent and Republic of Ireland, of course, they are a capable team so they'll be challenging.

"But you just feel that we're prepared for anybody at the moment and we're confident, and a lot of that is down to Craig Bellamy."

Potential Playoff Semi-final Rivals Evaluated

The Welsh squad are placed thirty-fourth in the world rankings, with the Albanian team 61st, Ireland sixty-second, Bosnia 75th and the Kosovan side 84th.

The Albanian national team had a impressive qualification run, with their only losses suffered at the hands of their group winners England, who secured maximum points without allowing a single goal.

The Premier League's Armando Broja and Lazio's Elseid Hysaj are among the Red and Blacks's recognizable players, although it was former Inter Milan, Barcelona and Watford forward Rey Manaj who led their scoring tally in qualifying with 3 goals.

Notably, Albania have not yet earned a spot for a World Cup, although they featured at the 2016 European Championship and the 2024 Euros, not managing to advance to the knockout stages on both times.

While Slovenia and Sweden had difficult campaigns, with both failing to win a qualification match, Group B was a straight shootout between Switzerland and Kosovo.

The Switzerland ended the six-game qualifiers 3 points clear of Kosovo, whose single defeat was at the hands of the group winners.

The Kosovan squad feature former Manchester City goalkeeper Arijanet Muric and La Liga's Vedat Muriqi – his nation's historic leading goalscorer – in a team targeting a maiden major tournament appearance.

They have never played Wales.

Bosnia were defeated only one time in qualifying, and claimed a point more than the Welsh managed in their 8 games, but still finished 2 points adrift of Group H winners Austria.

They were 13 minutes away from clinching a spot at the World Cup, but Michael Gregoritsch's leveler for the Austrians ensured the pair drew in the final game of qualifying and Ralf Rangnick's team topped the pool.

The Welsh have not managed to beat the Bosnians in four matches but did have a unforgettable defeat against the Dragons as they qualified for Euro 2016 under Chris Coleman even after losing.

As his nation's historic top goalscorer and most-capped player, ex- Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, currently with Fiorentina, is unquestionably Bosnia's key player.

The 39-year-old was his team's leading goalscorer in the qualifiers with 5 goals.

And finally, we have Republic of Ireland.

After secured just one point from their opening three qualifiers, Heimir Hallgrímsson's side stormed into the playoffs with successive wins against Armenia, Portugal and Hungary.

Troy Parrott netted the two goals against the 2016 European Championship winners Portugal before bagging a hat-trick – with the final goal arriving in the 96th minute – as the Republic of Ireland surprised Hungary to secure second spot in Group F in dramatic style.

Talisman Seamus Coleman had a vital role in his side's resurgence while Premier League keeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made the number one position his own.

Ireland are without a win in their last 4 meetings with Wales, defeated in three of those, although James McClean shattered the hopes of the Welsh fans as Martin O'Neill's men won a decisive World Cup qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium in 2017.