Leeds United quartet make international squad ahead of 2026 World Cup deciders
Leeds United's Premier League survival bid will be put on hold following Saturday's meeting with Brentford.
Leeds United’s Welsh quartet will have the chance to book a 2026 World Cup spot during the upcoming March international break.
Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Daniel James have all been named in Craig Bellamy’s squad for upcoming World Cup qualifying play-offs. Wales face Bosnia & Herzegovina in their semi-final clash at the Cardiff City Stadium on the evening of Thursday March 26.
Victory in that one-legged tie would set up a qualifying decider against the winner of Italy vs Northern Ireland, with a place at this summer’s World Cup up for grabs. That potential final will take place on Tuesday March 31 and should Wales be involved, it will again be in Cardiff.
Wales kept their World Cup hopes alive during the previous international break in November, winning both group stage qualifiers to finish second in Group J. Bellamy’s side won 1-0 at Liechtenstein before a dominant 7-1 thumping of North Macedonia in Cardiff.
James was among the goalscorers during that brilliant performance, scoring Wales’ fourth goal of the night. But the Leeds winger has struggled with injury since, picking up a hamstring tendon injury a few weeks after that international appearance that kept him out for just over two months.
Rodon has also been sidelined recently due to an ankle injury but it kept him out for just a few games over the festive period, while a small hamstring problem was managed with rest in the FA Cup. The centre-back has been virtually ever-present otherwise, also starting each of the last four games for Wales.
Ampadu missed that 7-1 thumping of Macedonia through suspension after picking up his second yellow card of Wales’ qualifying campaign against Liechtenstein. The midfielder has been a rock for Leeds this season, making the step up to the Premier League with only a handful of below-par performances.
This will be Darlow’s first international break as a first-choice goalkeeper for club and country, having replaced £16million summer Leeds signing Lucas Perri earlier this year following costly errors against Manchester United and Newcastle. The 35-year-old has been largely solid, as was the case during last season’s Championship promotion run-in.
All four will first be focused on Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brentford at Elland Road, a game Leeds will be desperate to win in order to pull away from their relegation rivals. Immediately after the break, Farke’s side travel to West Ham in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a three-week gap before their next league clash at Manchester United.