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Wales' sights are squarely on the upcoming World Cup playoff fixture as they await learning their semifinal and potential final rivals.

Having finished as runners-up in their qualifying group following a decisive 7-1 victory over North Macedonia – their biggest success since 1978 – the side will host the semi-final encounter on their own turf.

They will face either the Albanian side, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kosovan team or Republic of Ireland in that fixture on 26 March.

Former Wales forward Rob Earnshaw thinks the Dragons will relish a tie against whichever opponent following their latest performance at Cardiff City Stadium.

"I know Craig Bellamy, I played with him and his mindset is 'bring on anyone, it doesn't matter'," Earnshaw commented.

"A lot of fans were wondering last night, 'should we really want Ireland because of that derby atmosphere?'. In my view a number of people didn't. But personally, that would be incredible.

"So it's that type of situation, indeed, we're ready for the Kosovans or Bosnia and the Albanians are not bad and Ireland, of course, they are a strong team so they'll be tough.

"However you just feel that we're prepared for anybody at the moment and we're confident, and much of that is because of Craig Bellamy."

Potential Play-off Semifinal Rivals Evaluated

The Welsh squad sit thirty-fourth in the FIFA rankings, with the Albanian team 61st, Republic of Ireland sixty-second, Bosnia 75th and the Kosovan side 84th.

The Albanian national team enjoyed a impressive qualification campaign, with their sole defeats suffered at the hands of Group K winners England, who claimed full points without allowing a solitary goal.

The Premier League's Armando Broja and Lazio's Elseid Hysaj are among the Red and Blacks's prominent players, although it was former Inter Milan, Barcelona and Watford striker Rey Manaj who led their scoring chart in qualifying with three goals.

Importantly, the Albanians have never qualified for a World Cup, though they participated at Euro 2016 and Euro 2024, failing to reach the last 16 on each occasions.

While Slovenia and Sweden endured difficult campaigns, with each failing to win a qualification match, Group B was a direct battle between Switzerland and Kosovo.

The Swiss ended the six-match campaign three points ahead of the Kosovans, whose one defeat came at the hands of the group winners.

The Kosovan squad feature former Manchester City keeper Arijanet Muric and Mallorca's Vedat Muriqi – his nation's historic leading goalscorer – in a squad targeting a maiden international competition appearance.

They have not yet faced Wales.

Bosnia lost just once in qualifying, and claimed a point more than the Welsh managed in their 8 games, but nonetheless ended two points adrift of Group H winners Austria.

They were 13 minutes away from securing a place at the finals, but Michael Gregoritsch's equaliser for the Austrians ensured the teams drew in the final game of qualification and Ralf Rangnick's team won the group.

Wales have failed to defeat the Bosnian side in four attempts but experienced a memorable defeat against the Dragons as they earned qualification for the 2016 European Championship under Chris Coleman even after the defeat.

As his nation's historic leading scorer and record appearance player, ex- Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, currently with Fiorentina, is unquestionably Bosnia's key player.

The 39-year-old was his team's top scorer in the qualifiers with five goals.

And finally, we have Republic of Ireland.

After taken only a single point from their opening 3 matches, Heimir Hallgrímsson's side surged into the play-offs with back-to-back wins against Armenia, Portugal and Hungary.

Troy Parrott netted the two goals against Euro 2016 winners Portugal before bagging a hat-trick – with the final goal coming in the 96th minute – as the Republic of Ireland stunned Hungary to take second spot in Group F in thrilling fashion.

Talisman Seamus Coleman had a crucial role in his side's revival while Brentford keeper Caoimhin Kelleher has secured the number one position his to keep.

Ireland are winless in their past 4 encounters with Wales, losing 3 of these, although James McClean broke the hopes of the Welsh fans as Martin O'Neill's men won a crucial World Cup qualifying match at Cardiff City Stadium in 2017.