Three things we learned as Wales held to frustrating 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland

Wales were held to a 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium, ending the international window in frustrating fashion following the disappointment of failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It was a poor first-half showing from Craig Bellamy’s side, with a lapse in concentration defensively allowing Jamie Donley to stab home in the 22nd minute after following up on his own free header that had struck the post.

The hosts, however, started the second period in quicker tempo, with Sorba Thomas slotting home in the 46th minute after a deflected effort from David Brooks fell kindly at the Stoke City man’s feet.

Bellamy’s side continued to push for a winner but failed to find the breakthrough with the game finishing level surrounded by the less than enthusiastic atmosphere in the capital.

Wales now focus on EURO 2028 qualification plans

In truth, the friendly against the visitors was one neither side particularly wanted to play, with both still feeling the disappointment of missing out on another major tournament. That feeling was made even more evident by the number of empty seats left vacant by members of the Red Wall.

Attention will now quickly turn to the next opportunity, which will be played on home soil and is one Bellamy is keen to be part of, openly admitting he wants to keep what he describes as the best job in the world.

They will compete in League A of the UEFA Nations League alongside Portugal, Norway and Denmark, giving them plenty of opportunities to test themselves against high-level European opposition ahead of what many will consider a must-qualify tournament in 2028.

There should be plenty of excitement and optimism heading into the next qualification campaign, particularly with the possibility of Cymru hosting the opening fixture in Cardiff.

First Wales start for Joel Colwill with future looking bright

Cardiff City youngster Joel Colwill received his first senior international start for his country during the friendly in the capital, following an impressive season for the Bluebirds in League One.

The midfielder is one of several Welsh youngsters pushing to break into the senior set-up on a more regular basis, something that will be vital for future success, especially with Bellamy admitting that overall squad depth must improve.

These are exciting times for the Red Wall, who could be witnessing the emergence of one of the strongest squads the country has had on the international stage in decades, if developed correctly.

The days of Gareth Bale carrying the nation on his back may be behind us, but there is still a bright future ahead, with plenty of potential match-winners coming through if they are given the opportunity to develop.

Defensive worries must be addressed by Craig Bellamy

One area of concern that the Wales boss will be looking to address moving forward is the defensive frailties his side have shown since he took over the role.

Having managed to keep a clean sheet in only three of their nine World Cup qualifying fixtures, once against Kazakhstan and twice against Liechtenstein, there were further lapses in concentration at the back for the visitors’ goal.

The loss of Ben Davies, who is not only one of the side’s strongest defenders but also brings vast experience, has been significant for Bellamy’s team. However, the future looks promising in the form of 21-year-old Dylan Lawlor.

The youngster has performed exceptionally since making his debut, delivering a man-of-the-match performance against Kazakhstan in September 2025, and as long as he stays fit, he looks likely to make that red shirt his own ahead of future campaigns.