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Wales' attention are firmly on Thursday's World Cup play-off fixture as they await learning their semi-final and possible final rivals.

After finished second in their qualification group thanks to a decisive 7-1 victory over North Macedonia – their largest success since 1978 – the side will play the semifinal match on home soil.

They will play against either Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kosovan team or Ireland in that match on 26 March.

Former Wales striker Rob Earnshaw thinks the Welsh squad will welcome a match against any team following their latest result at Cardiff City Stadium.

"I'm familiar with Craig Bellamy, I played with him and his mindset is 'bring on anyone, we're ready'," Earnshaw commented.

"Many supporters were saying last night, 'do we really want Ireland as it's that local atmosphere?'. In my view many people were hesitant. But for me, that could be incredible.

"It's one of those, indeed, we're ready for the Kosovans or Bosnia and Albania are decent and Ireland, of course, they are a strong team so they'll be difficult.

"However you just feel that we're prepared for anyone at the moment and it doesn't matter, and much of that is down to Craig Bellamy."

Possible Playoff Semifinal Opponents Reviewed

The Welsh squad sit thirty-fourth in the FIFA standings, with Albania sixty-first, Ireland 62nd, Bosnia seventy-fifth and the Kosovan side eighty-fourth.

The Albanian national team enjoyed a impressive qualification run, with their only losses suffered at the hands of Group K winners England, who claimed full points without conceding a solitary goal.

The Premier League's Armando Broja and the Serie A side's Elseid Hysaj are among the Albanian squad's more notable names, although it was former Inter Milan, Barcelona and Watford striker Rey Manaj who topped their scoring tally in qualifying with three goals.

It is worth noting, the Albanians have not yet earned a spot for a World Cup, though they participated at the 2016 European Championship and Euro 2024, failing to reach the knockout stages on both occasions.

As Slovenia and Sweden had poor campaigns, with each not managing to win a qualifying match, Group B was a direct battle between Switzerland and Kosovo.

The Switzerland ended the six-match qualifiers 3 points ahead of Kosovo, whose single defeat was at the hands of the pool winners.

The Kosovan squad include ex- Manchester City keeper Arijanet Muric and Mallorca's Vedat Muriqi – his nation's historic top scorer – in a squad targeting a first international competition appearance.

They have never faced the Welsh team.

Bosnia-Herzegovina lost only one time in the qualifiers, and earned a point more 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 World Cup, but Michael Gregoritsch's leveler for the Austrians meant the teams drew in the last game of qualification and Ralf Rangnick's team topped the group.

Wales have not managed to beat the Bosnians in four matches but experienced a memorable loss against Zmajevi as they qualified for the 2016 European Championship under Chris Coleman despite losing.

Being his country's all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player, former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, currently with Fiorentina, is unquestionably Bosnia-Herzegovina's standout player.

The veteran was his squad's leading goalscorer in qualifying with 5 goals.

Lastly, we have Republic of Ireland.

After secured just one point from their opening 3 matches, Heimir Hallgrímsson's side stormed into the playoffs with back-to-back wins against Armenia, Portugal and Hungary.

Troy Parrott netted the two goals against the 2016 European Championship winners Portugal before bagging a triple – with the final goal coming in the 96th minute – as the Irish stunned Hungary to take second spot in Group F in thrilling style.

Talisman Seamus Coleman played a vital role in his side's resurgence while Premier League keeper Caoimhin Kelleher has secured the number one jersey his to keep.

Ireland are without a win in their last 4 meetings with the Welsh, losing three of these, although James McClean shattered the hearts of the Red Wall as Martin O'Neill's team won a decisive World Cup qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium in 2017.