Wales captain Ramsey left out for World Cup play-offs

Captain Aaron Ramsey has been left out of the Wales squad for this month’s World Cup play-offs, casting further doubt over his future.

The 35-year-old has been without a club since leaving Pumas in December, having not played for the Mexican side since September.

That lack of first-team football, combined with a run of injuries, means Ramsey has not played for Wales since September 2024.

The former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder has said he wants to play for Wales at this summer’s World Cup should they qualify, but his hopes of representing his country at a fourth major tournament look increasingly remote.

Wales face Bosnia-Herzegovina in their World Cup play-off semi-final at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, 26 March, with the winners hosting Italy or Northern Ireland in the final five days later.

Craig Bellamy’s side are without Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies, Wrexham striker Kieffer Moore and centre-back Chris Mepham – on loan at West Bromwich Albion from Bournemouth – because of injury.

The winners of this play-off path will secure their place at the World Cup, where they will be in Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

If Wales get there, it looks increasingly like they will be without Ramsey.

The playmaker has enjoyed a glittering international career, the highlight being the starring role he played as Wales reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals, earning himself a place in Uefa’s team of the tournament.

Ramsey has also excelled at the highest level in club football, spending more than a decade at Arsenal, for whom he scored winning goals in two FA Cup finals.

In Ramsey’s absence, Davies has worn the armband for Wales but, as the Spurs defender is injured, Fulham attacking midfielder Harry Wilson is likely to skipper the team against Bosnia.

Wilson led Wales for the first time in November, scoring a hat-trick in the 7-1 thrashing of North Macedonia to secure home advantage for their World Cup play-off semi-final.

Davies is facing a lengthy lay-off with a broken ankle, while Moore and Mepham are ruled out with hamstring injuries.

There is no place in the squad for Ashley Phillips, the Spurs defender on loan at Stoke City who Wales are hoping will switch allegiance from England to play for them.