Wales get nervy win over Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein 0 - 1 Wales
Wales laboured to an unconvincing victory in Liechtenstein, doing just enough to keep themselves on track for a second-place finish in their World Cup qualifying group.
The hosts, ranked 206th in the world and largely made up of part-time players, were organised enough to hold Wales at bay until the break. Nathan Broadhead had a first half strike ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR check, while Benjamin Buchel was kept busy in the Liechtenstein goal, as he so often is, without Wales ever finding much rhythm.
There was little spark from Craig Bellamy’s side and their sense of frustration only deepened when Daniel James struck a post early in the second half. The breakthrough eventually arrived on the hour when a neat exchange between Neco Williams and Daniel James created the opening for Jordan James to turn in from close range.
It was at least something for the 3,000 Welsh supporters, who filled most of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz, to take home from an otherwise flat evening.
What happens next?
Wales now know they must beat North Macedonia in Cardiff on Tuesday to secure second place behind Belgium in Group J and guarantee a home semi-final in March’s play-offs. Anything less and they will still reach the play-offs courtesy of their Nations League record, though they would face a one-legged semi-final away from home.
They will, however, have to raise their level markedly and do so without captain Ethan Ampadu and goalscorer Jordan James, both of whom will be suspended after bookings in Vaduz.
Bellamy had to watch from the stands
Wales were still expected to breeze past such limited opposition, whatever disruption they had faced in the build-up.
Only four nations sit below Liechtenstein in the world rankings and their squad, made up largely of students and office workers, had gone six matches in this campaign without scoring while conceding 23. They had at least shown an ability to dig in during the reverse fixture in Cardiff, where they held out until the 40th minute before falling to a 3-0 defeat.
Their resistance in Vaduz lasted even longer. Broadhead believed he had finally pierced it midway through the first half, driving the ball home after a scrambled clearance from a corner, only for VAR to intervene. After a trip to the monitor, referee Juxhin Xhaja ruled it out as Welsh players were judged to have impeded Buchel from an offside position.
Buchel had already denied Broadhead and Jordan James, yet the broader picture underlined how flat Wales were. Liechtenstein seldom looked troubled or stretched.
Diolch am eich cefnogaeth anhygoel heno ♥️ pic.twitter.com/YBAIi8jXc3
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 15, 2025
The visitors improved slightly after the break but created little of note despite dominating the ball. Their goal stood out as the one moment of genuine quality, with Williams sliding a fine pass through to Daniel James, whose low cross was swept in by Jordan James.
The midfielder’s first Wales goal was quickly overshadowed when he was booked moments later, joining Ampadu on the suspension list for Tuesday’s meeting with North Macedonia after the captain was cautioned in the second half.
Liechtenstein even threatened a late equaliser in added time, but Wales avoided further embarrassment when Sandro Wolfinger volleyed wide.
