How this could be Gareth Bale’s last World Cup qualifying campaign

Wales’ upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign could be the last chance for Gareth Bale to play in world football’s biggest tournament.

Bale is approaching his eighth qualifying campaign for a major tournament as Wales begin their qualification group away to Roberto Martinez’s Belgium.

The 31-year-old has had three chances of playing for the Jules Rimet trophy but on all occasions, Wales have fallen short as they chase an allusive second appearance at the major showpiece, with their last coming in 1958.

Bale, who has won four Champions League’s in his playing career, would be 37 for the next World Cup after Qatar in 2026 and that could cast a doubt on whether he will be around for that next campaign.

“We want to give it our best shot, and possibly it’s the last time that I’ll be able to qualify for a World Cup so we need to give it a real good go and give everything like we always do for the country.”

“I think now the aim is to qualify for a World Cup,” added Bale. “There’s no time like the present to try and qualify this time around, we’ll give it our best shot. 

Despite missing out on a World Cup so far, Bale has been pivotal in qualifying for EURO 2016 and EURO 2020, as he proudly dons the captains armband for this campaign.

The Spurs star was the top scorer in each qualifying campaign, as well as leading the way for Wales in France in 2016. 

Bale is now approaching his 15th year as a Wales player having made his debut in a friendly win over Trinidad & Tobago in May 2006.

“It’s been a long time since I started here, but I think through the years, we’ve got better and better as time has gone on,” he explained.

“Originally, we wanted to qualify for a major tournament, and then we wanted to qualify for multiple tournaments, which we have.”

(Featured Image: Mike James)