On Thursday, October 9, England will play against Wales in a friendly match. The game will start at 20:45 CET. Here is a preview of the match.
England vs Wales: Match Preview
England and Wales are starting this international break with a friendly before they continue their 2026 World Cup qualifying matches soon.
Currently, England tops their qualifying group with three matches remaining, including an important game against Latvia on October 14. A win in that match will secure their World Cup spot. England is leading the group by seven points, having won all five of their games so far, earning 15 points. Although they will miss key players like Bellingham, Foden, and Reece James, their squad is deep enough to manage.
Wales is also aiming for qualification and has a good chance of finishing in the top two to reach the playoffs. They have gained ten points from five matches. After losing to Belgium, they are behind in the head-to-head records, while North Macedonia sits with 11 points from the same number of games. Wales’ upcoming matches are crucial—beating North Macedonia will keep their hopes alive for second place, and a win against Belgium at home could even put them in the running for first. They lost their last meeting 3–4, so they believe they can do better this time in Cardiff.
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- England has lost only once in their last nine matches.
- Wales has lost two of their last three games.
- Wales has lost only one of their last six away matches.
- England defeated Wales 3–0 in their last encounter.
Probable Line-ups
- England: Henderson; Spence, Konsa, Burn, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Anderson, Rogers; Saka, Kane, Rashford
- Wales: Darlow; Williams, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Ampadu, J. James; Johnson, Wilson, Thomas; Moore
Prediction
Considering Wales’ recent performances, England’s strong form and home advantage lead me to suggest betting on England to score over 2 goals.