Leeds United quartet named in Wales squad for 2026 World Cup play-offs

Leeds United’s Welsh quartet Karl Darlow , Joe Rodon , Ethan Ampadu and Daniel James have been called up by Craig Bellamy for Wales’ March play-offs for the 2026 World Cup .

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Wales host Bosnia & Herzegovina at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday March 26. The winners face Italy or Northern Ireland in a one-off final on Tuesday March 31, which will again be in Cardiff if Wales progress.

Wales stayed alive in November, beating Liechtenstein 1-0 then North Macedonia 7-1 in Cardiff to finish second in Group J.

James scored Wales’ fourth in that Cardiff rout, then missed just over two months with a hamstring tendon injury.

Rodon sat out a few festive games with an ankle issue, while a minor hamstring problem was handled with FA Cup rest. He has otherwise been near ever-present and started Wales’ last four games.

Ampadu missed the 7-1 through suspension after his second booking of the campaign against Liechtenstein and has been a rock for Leeds in the Premier League.

This is Darlow’s first international window as first-choice for club and country after displacing £16million summer signing Lucas Perri earlier this year following costly errors against Manchester United and Newcastle. The 35-year-old has largely been solid.

Before reporting for Wales , the quartet target Saturday’s Premier League visit of Brentford at Elland Road. After the break, Farke’s side go to West Ham in the FA Cup quarter-finals, then wait three weeks before a league trip to Manchester United.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk