Wales hoping World Cup 2026 draw will open up chance to face old rivals England in Wembley clash

WALES believe they are front runners for a lucrative friendly with England at Wembley if the stars align at today's 2026 World Cup draw.

The Dragons have not played at the 90,000-capacity home of English football in front of a crowd since September 2011.

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But SunSport understands that if the two Home Nations avoid each other in the qualifying draw in Zurich then Welsh chiefs are keen to line up a fixture against their old rivals.

Craig Bellamy's men won promotion to the top tier of the Nations League last month and, as a result, they will not be involved in any March play-off just like England.

League B winners Wales, who thrashed Iceland 4-1 in Cardiff, could be drawn in a four or five team group for the qualifiers leading to the 2026 finals in USA, Canada and Mexico.

In a five team group, qualifiers would be played in March and June.

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But a group of four would see the Dragons have four friendly dates before the qualifying process starts in September.

Bellamy has started his managerial tenure with an impressive six-match unbeaten run.

And a stern test against England would be ideal in their development. 

Wales last played the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup where ex-boss Robert Page saw his men lose 3-0 in Qatar.

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The teams also competed against each other in the Euro 2016 group stages with Daniel Sturridge scoring a last-gasp winner to beat Chris Coleman's semi-finalists 2-1 in Lens.

Former Wales manager Ryan Giggs took a side for a friendly against England at Wembley in October 2020.

But that was during Covid so restrictions meant there were no supporters present for the Three Lions' 3-0 victory.

The last time the sides played a competitive Wembley clash with a full house came 13 years ago when Ashley Young's winner handed England a Euro 2012 qualifying victory.

Gary Speed's young side including Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey showed big signs of promise on the night.

And the visitors would have secured a draw only for Robert Earnshaw to miss an open goal late on.