Wales World Cup squad confirmed as Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey lead Qatar hopefuls

Iran defeated Wales in a big game with major ramifications for Group B. Gareth Bale said the loss was “difficult to take”.

Rob Page has named his 26-man squad for Wales’s first World Cup appearance in 64 years, with experienced duo Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey leading the way.

Ramsey was left out of Page’s September squad after suffering a hamstring injury but returns for the Qatar tournament alongside Bale, who has battled fitness issues of his own since joining LAFC in July but memorably won his side the MLS Cup with a late winner last week.

Bale is Wales’s all-time top scorer with 40 goals in 108 internationals and scored all three goals in their play-offs against Austria and Ukraine.

Joe Allen, who has 72 caps, has also been included despite not playing for Swansea since mid-September when he picked up a hamstring injury, while Jonny Williams makes the cut after starring for Swindon.

Tyler Roberts and Rhys Norrington-Davies miss out through injury.

Wales, who last qualified for a World Cup, start against the USA on November 21, before games against Iran on November 25 and England on November 29.

GO DEEPER

Jonny Williams: 'Seeing I was in the Panini sticker book made World Cup dream real'

Wales’s World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Sheffield United).

Defenders: Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Tom Lockyer (Luton Town), Joe Rodon (Rennes, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Mephan (Bournemouth), Ethan Ampadu (Spezia, on loan from Chelsea), Chris Gunter (Wimbledon), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Connor Roberts (Burnley).

Midfielders: Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield Town), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Matthew Smith (Milton Keynes Dons), Dylan Levitt (Dundee United), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Jonny Williams (Swindon Town), Aaron Ramsey (Nice), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).

Forwards: Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest), Dan James (Fulham, on loan from Leeds United).

GO DEEPER

World Cup 2022 Group B guide: England's control and the Iran goalkeeper's javelin-style throws

(Photo: Getty Images)