Kazakhstan v Wales: World Cup 2026 qualifier - live

now 10.12 EDT 11 min: Kazakhstan enjoy a rare spell of possession but lose the ball when a misplaced Damir Kassabulet pass finds its way to the feet of Dylan Lawlor. Share

44s ago 10.11 EDT 10 min: Thomas’s corner is cleared with a meaty header, Wales regain possession just inside their own half and advance up field again. Share

2m ago 10.10 EDT 7 min: Wales are dominating possession in these early stages, with Kazakhstan sitting deep in a lines of five and four. Ben Davies tries a shot from distance after some patient build-up and wins a corner for his side when his shot pole-axes Alip. Share

4m ago 10.07 EDT 6 min: Sorba Thomas has started well for Wales and is giving his marker, Bagdat Kairov an early headache. The Welshman drills a low cross into the Kazakhstan penalty area from the left but it’s cleared before it arrives at the feet of Brennan Johnson. Share

6m ago 10.06 EDT 4 min: Kazakhstan win a the first corner of the game, the ball going out off Sorba Thomas. Dastan Satpaev takes it short but the hosts mess up their set-piece and gift possession back to Wales. Share

7m ago 10.05 EDT 3 min: Wales have lined up with a back four, defying the expectations of the Fifa graphics department, who had them playing three at the back. Brennan Johnson sends a cross from the right in the general direction of Kieffer Moore but is unable to pick out the first Wrexham player to line-up for Wales in 17 years. Share

9m ago 10.03 EDT 1 min: Good work by Sorba Thomas down the left as he chases a ball out wide from Ben Davies but he runs into a firm wall of resistance in Kazakhstan’s Yan Vorogovskiy. Share

10m ago 10.02 EDT Kazakhstan v Wales is go ... 1 min: Kazakhstan get the ball rolling, their players wearing yellow shirts, shorts and socks with blue trim. Their visitors are in an all red kit. Share

16m ago 09.55 EDT Not long now: Both sets of players line up in the tunnel and are led out on to the pitch by Spanish referee Alejandro Hernandez and his team of match officials. It’s coming up to 7pm local time in Astana and kick-off is just a few minutes away. Share Updated at 09.56 EDT

28m ago 09.44 EDT Craig Bellamy: “No matter what, it’s going to be a difficult game,” said the Wales manager ahead of today’s qualifier. “Playing [Kazakhstan] at home in Cardiff was a good challenge as well, how they set up, how they look to counter-attack. They spent a long time without the ball and that usually breaks teams earlier than it did. We call it heart. I admired it. For us, do we have the quality on the day? That’s the most important. Have we prepared well? Are we able to adapt? We’ll have to take the game to them.” View image in fullscreen Wales head coach Craig Bellamy takes in his surroundings at the Astana Arena ahead of kick-off. Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev/Reuters Share

42m ago 09.29 EDT Today’s match officials Referee: Alejandro Hernandez

Referee’s assistants: Jose Naranjo and Diego Sanchez

Fourth official: Joe Luis Nunuera

Video assistant referee: Cesar Soto Grado View image in fullscreen Alejandro Hernandez leads the Spanish team of match officials in charge of laying down the law at the Astana Arena. Photograph: Álex Caparrós/Getty Images Share

44m ago 09.27 EDT View image in fullscreen Wales defender Chris Mepham and assistant coach Andrew Crofts get their pre-match chat on in Astana. Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev/Reuters Share

46m ago 09.25 EDT Wales team news: A tip of the garish bucket hat to Kieffer Moore and Chris Mepham, who both notch up their half-century of Wales caps today. Just beginning his international journey, Cardiff City’s 19-year-old defender Dylan Lawlor makes his first appearance for his country. Well done, Dylan. Moore, Lawlor, Neco William, Liam Cullen and Josh Sheehan come into a side that features five changes from the XI who lined up for Wales narrow defeat at the hands of Belgium last time out. Share Updated at 09.53 EDT

1h ago 09.14 EDT Kazakhstan v Wales line-ups Kazakhstan: Anarbekov, Kasym, Maliy, Alip, Kairov, Orazov, Kasabulat, Vorogovskiy, Satpaev, Kenzhebek, Samorodov. Subs: Shayzada, Seisen, Zhaksybaev, Muzhikov, Chesnokov, Karaman, Zhagorov, Sviridov, Zhumat, Sultanbek Astanov, Omirtayev, Khalmatov. Wales: Darlow, Mepham, Ben Davies, Lawlor, Thomas, Cullen, Sheehan, Wilson, Williams, Johnson, Moore. Subs: Adam Davies, Cabango, Brooks, Koumas, Kpakio, Crew, Jordan James, Harris, Daniel James, King, Norrington-Davies, Colwill. Share

1h ago 09.04 EDT Early Kazakhstan team news Since losing to Wales in Cardiff Kazakhstan have lost Askhat Tagybergen, their goalscorer and captain on the night, to international retirement. The veteran stood down following his side’s defeat at the hands of North Macedonia citing his wish to make way for new blood in the national side. Arguably Kazakhstan’s brightest prospect, the 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev made his senior international debut in that game against Wales and the Astana striker will join Chelsea once he turns 18. His Kairat Almaty teammate, Alexander Zarutskyi, misses out through injury today after being forced off during the first leg of his team’s Champions League playoff first leg against Celtic and is likely to be replaced by Astana’s Mukhammedzhan Seysen. Share

1h ago 09.04 EDT Early Wales team news Wales go into this game suffering from a litany of injuries, with the loss of Leeds duo Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon arguably the ones that will hurt the most. Wrexham goalkeeper Danny Ward and his teammate Nathan Broadhead have also been ruled out, while Jay Dasilva and Connor Roberts are also numbered among the Cymru lame and halt. Currently playing his club football in Mexico with Pumas UNAM, Aaron Ramsey has been omitted from the squad due to lack of match fitness following his return to action from a hamstring injury. Bellamy insists the 34-year-old midfielder features in his future plans but the pair agreed Ramsey would miss this game and Wales’ friendly against Canada on Tuesday because he has only played once since March. In the absence of so many experienced players, Cardiff City duo Dylan Lawlor and Ronan Kpakio have earned their first international call-ups, although there is no place in the squad for their fellow Bluebird, Ruben Colwill despite the 23-year-old midfielder’s impressive start to the season. Bellamy explained he was “very close” to being selected but added that he wants to “see more” from him. Colwill’s younger brother and Cardiff teammate, Joel, did make the cut and is included in a Wales squad for the first time. View image in fullscreen Fulham winger Harry Wilson has scored a goal in six of his last seven appearances for Wales in World Cup qualifying and the Nations League. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Share

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