Craig Bellamy focused on Wales 2026 World Cup dream despite links with Celtic

Wales manager Craig Bellamy says he remains fully committed to his national team role despite being linked with the vacant Celtic job.

Bellamy acknowledged that speculation was inevitable given his previous spell at the club as a player, but stressed his focus is firmly on Wales.

“I definitely understand the links but to me I love what I’m doing at this present moment, I’m completely focused on what’s to come,” said Bellamy.

“It’s going to be a play-off in March we know that and to me thats all we’re focused on, I know it’s a little bit cliche but it’s the honest truth.

“I couldn’t want anything more than what I have in this present moment and that’s where it lies with me, anything else is not on my radar and it won’t be on my radar.”

Following successive defeats to England and Belgium in their previous camp, the pressure has began to build on the Wales boss, however he’s shown how driven he is to deliver success to the nation he’s proud to represent.

“I’m a real proud Welshman and I don’t believe anyones as proud of being Welsh as me and I feel we all feel the same, we all have that, this has made it even more.

“I fall in love with the country more and more, so I’m grateful for what I have in this moment. I feel as long as I’m wanted and the people of Wales feel I can add, then that to me is something that motivates me.”

He added, “Having this at the moment has been one of the best periods of my life and hopefully that continues for a lot longer as well.”

Wales remain focused on securing qualification for next summer’s FIFA World Cup, with the play-off route in March now the most realistic pathway if they can clinch second place in their group.

Before discovering their play-off opponents, Wales must navigate two final qualifiers: an away trip to Liechtenstein followed by a decisive home clash in Cardiff against North Macedonia that is likely to decide the second place spot.

Wales boss shares admiration for Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy

The latest Wales squad includes four Cardiff City players, with the in-form Bluebirds benefiting from a wave of emerging Welsh talent under manager Brian Barry-Murphy.

Following several challenging years for the club, Cardiff’s resurgence under Barry-Murphy has been significant, and Bellamy believes that revival is delivering major advantages for the national team.

“The Cardiff manager, he’s benefitting us as a national team,” said Bellamy when quizzed on the recent performances of Cardiff’s Rubin Colwill.

“The way he plays we’re quite similar in how we try to move, but the players he’s playing especially the young players coming through, an average of six or seven Welsh players in the team playing in the way we sort of play.

“He’s (Barry-Murphy) a dream for me I have to be honest, they get this on a week to week basis which will only benefit me and what we like to do as coaches and Rubin’s definitely benefited from that.”

Wales squad to face Liechtenstein and North Macedonia

Karl DARLOW (Leeds United), Adam DAVIES (Sheffield United), Tom KING (Everton), Ben DAVIES (Tottenham Hotspur), Jay DASILVA (Coventry City), Chris MEPHAM (West Bromwich Albion), Ben CABANGO (Swansea City), Joe RODON (Leeds United), Dylan LAWLOR (Cardiff City), Neco WILLIAMS (Nottingham Forest), Ronan KPAKIO (Cardiff City), Ethan AMPADU (Leeds United), Josh SHEEHAN (Bolton Wanderers), Jordan JAMES (Leicester City, on loan from Stade Rennais), Liam CULLEN (Swansea City), Joel COLWILL (Cardiff City), Harry WILSON (Fulham), Nathan BROADHEAD (Wrexham), Rubin COLWILL (Cardiff City), Sorba THOMAS (Stoke City), Lewis KOUMAS (Birmingham City- On loan from Liverpool), Mark HARRIS (Oxford United), Kieffer MOORE (Wrexham), Brennan JOHNSON (Tottenham Hotspur), David BROOKS (Bournemouth), Dan JAMES (Leeds United).