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Wales' focus are firmly on the upcoming World Cup playoff fixture as they prepare for learning their semifinal and potential final challengers.

After ended as runners-up in their qualification pool thanks to a dominant 7-1 victory over North Macedonia – their biggest win since 1978 – the side will host the semi-final match on home soil.

They will face either Albania, Bosnia, the Kosovan team or Republic of Ireland in that match on 26 March.

Ex- Wales forward Rob Earnshaw thinks the Dragons will relish a match against any opponent following their most recent performance at Cardiff City Stadium.

"I'm familiar with Craig Bellamy, I played with him and his approach is 'bring on whoever, we're ready'," Earnshaw stated.

"A lot of fans were saying last night, 'should we really want Republic of Ireland as it's that derby atmosphere?'. I think many people didn't. But personally, that would be amazing.

"It's that type of situation, yes, we're ready for the Kosovans or the Bosnians and the Albanians are not bad and Ireland, of course, they're a very good team so they'll be difficult.

"But you just feel that we'll take anybody at the moment and we're confident, and much of that is down to Craig Bellamy."

Possible Playoff Semi-final Opponents Reviewed

Wales sit thirty-fourth in the world standings, with Albania 61st, Republic of Ireland sixty-second, Bosnia-Herzegovina seventy-fifth and the Kosovan side eighty-fourth.

Albania had a impressive qualifying run, with their only defeats suffered at the hands of Group K winners England, who secured maximum points without conceding a solitary goal.

Burnley's Armando Broja and Lazio's Elseid Hysaj are among the Albanian squad's more notable players, although it was ex- Inter Milan, Barcelona and Watford striker Rey Manaj who topped their goal chart in qualifying with three goals.

It is worth noting, the Albanians have never earned a spot for a World Cup, though they featured at Euro 2016 and the 2024 Euros, not managing to advance to the last 16 on each times.

While Slovenia and Sweden endured difficult runs, with both not managing to win a qualification match, Group B was a direct battle between Switzerland and the Kosovan team.

The Switzerland finished the six-match campaign 3 points clear of Kosovo, whose single defeat came at the hands of the pool winners.

Kosovo include former Manchester City goalkeeper Arijanet Muric and Mallorca's Vedat Muriqi – his country's historic leading goalscorer – in a team targeting a maiden major tournament appearance.

They have never played Wales.

Bosnia were defeated only one time in the qualifiers, and claimed a points additional than the Welsh managed in their 8 games, but nonetheless ended 2 points adrift of Group H winners Austria.

They were 13 minutes away from securing a place at the finals, but Michael Gregoritsch's equaliser for the Austrians ensured the pair drew in the final game of qualifying and Ralf Rangnick's team topped the group.

Wales have failed to beat the Bosnians in 4 attempts but did have a unforgettable loss against Zmajevi as they qualified for Euro 2016 under Chris Coleman despite losing.

Being his nation's historic leading scorer and most-capped player, former Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko, currently with Fiorentina, is undoubtedly Bosnia-Herzegovina's standout player.

The veteran was his squad's top scorer in qualifying with 5 goals.

Lastly, we have Ireland.

After secured only a single point from their opening three qualifiers, Heimir Hallgrímsson's side surged into the play-offs with successive wins against Armenia, Portugal and Hungary.

Troy Parrott netted both goals against the 2016 European Championship winners Portugal before scoring a hat-trick – with the third goal arriving in the 96th minute – as the Irish surprised Hungary to take runner-up place in Group F in thrilling fashion.

Key player Seamus Coleman had a crucial role in his team's revival while Premier League keeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made the number one position his own.

The Republic of Ireland are without a win in their past 4 meetings with Wales, defeated in three of those, although James McClean broke the hopes of the Red Wall as Martin O'Neill's team won a crucial World Cup qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium in 2017.