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Wales' attention are firmly on the upcoming World Cup playoff fixture as they await discovering their semi-final and potential final challengers.

After finished as runners-up in their qualification pool thanks to a dominant 7-1 win over North Macedonia – their biggest win since 1978 – the side will play the semi-final encounter on their own turf.

They will play against either the Albanian side, Bosnia, the Kosovan team or Ireland in that fixture on 26 March.

Ex- Wales striker Rob Earnshaw believes the Welsh squad will embrace a match against any opponent after their most recent performance at Cardiff City Stadium.

"I know Craig Bellamy, we were teammates with him and his mindset is 'bring on whoever, it doesn't matter'," Earnshaw commented.

"Many fans were wondering last night, 'do we really want Republic of Ireland because of that local feel?'. In my view a number of people were hesitant. But personally, that could be fantastic.

"It's that type of situation, yes, we'll take the Kosovans or the Bosnians and the Albanians are decent and Republic of Ireland, naturally, they're a strong team so they'll be difficult.

"However you just feel that we're prepared for anyone right now and we're confident, and much of that is down to Craig Bellamy."

Potential Play-off Semi-final Rivals Assessed

Wales sit 34th in the world rankings, with Albania sixty-first, Ireland sixty-second, Bosnia-Herzegovina 75th and Kosovo 84th.

Albania enjoyed a impressive qualifying run, with their sole losses coming at the hands of Group K winners England, who secured maximum points without allowing a solitary goal.

The Premier League's Armando Broja and Lazio's Elseid Hysaj are part of the Albanian squad's recognizable names, although it was former Inter Milan, Barcelona and Watford striker Rey Manaj who topped their scoring tally in qualifying with three goals.

Importantly, the Albanians have never earned a spot for a FIFA World Cup, though they featured at Euro 2016 and the 2024 Euros, not managing to advance to the last 16 on each times.

As Slovenia and Sweden endured torrid runs, with each failing to win a qualification match, Group B was a direct battle between Switzerland and the Kosovan team.

The Switzerland finished the six-match qualifiers 3 points ahead of the Kosovans, whose single loss was at the hands of the group winners.

Kosovo feature ex- Manchester City goalkeeper Arijanet Muric and La Liga's Vedat Muriqi – his country's all-time leading goalscorer – in a squad targeting a maiden major tournament appearance.

They have not yet faced the Welsh team.

Bosnia-Herzegovina lost only one time in the qualifiers, and earned a point additional than the Welsh managed in their 8 games, but still finished 2 points adrift of Group H winners Austria.

They were 13 minutes away from securing a place at the World Cup, but Michael Gregoritsch's equaliser for the Austrians meant the teams tied in the last game of qualifying and Ralf Rangnick's team won the pool.

The Welsh have not managed to beat the Bosnian side in four matches but experienced a memorable loss against Zmajevi as they earned qualification for the 2016 European Championship under Chris Coleman even after the defeat.

As his country's historic top goalscorer and record appearance player, ex- Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko, now at Fiorentina, is unquestionably Bosnia-Herzegovina's star player.

The veteran was his team's leading goalscorer in the qualifiers with five goals.

And finally, we have Ireland.

After secured only a single point from their first three matches, Heimir Hallgrímsson's side stormed into the playoffs with back-to-back wins against Armenia, Portugal and Hungary.

Troy Parrott netted both goals against Euro 2016 winners Portugal before bagging a hat-trick – with the third goal coming in the 96th minute – as the Irish surprised Hungary to take second spot in Group F in dramatic style.

Talisman Seamus Coleman had a vital role in his side's revival while Brentford keeper Caoimhin Kelleher has secured the number one jersey his own.

Ireland are without a win in their past 4 encounters with Wales, defeated in 3 of these, though James McClean broke the hearts of the Welsh fans as Martin O'Neill's men won a decisive World Cup qualifying match at Cardiff City Stadium in 2017.