Aaron Ramsey has been excluded from Wales national football team’s squad for this month’s World Cup play-offs, raising new uncertainty over the midfielder’s international future.
The 35-year-old has been without a club since leaving Pumas UNAM in December and has not featured competitively since September, a situation compounded by recurring injury setbacks.
Ramsey has not played for Wales since September 2024, despite previously expressing his desire to feature if the team qualifies for the 2026 World Cup.
Wales manager Craig Bellamy said Ramsey’s current lack of match fitness influenced the decision.
“He hasn’t played competitive football in seven months. He’s not at a club,” Bellamy said after unveiling the squad.
Ramsey, who previously played for Arsenal F.C. and Juventus F.C., now faces uncertainty over the possibility of appearing at what could have been his fourth major international tournament
In his absence, Ben Davies had worn the captain’s armband, but the defender is unavailable after suffering an ankle injury.
That leaves Harry Wilson, who plays for Fulham F.C., as the leading candidate to captain Wales in the play-off semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team in Cardiff on March 26.
The winner of that tie will face either Italy national football team or Northern Ireland national football team on March 31 for a place at the 2026 World Cup, which will be staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Bellamy also confirmed that efforts to recruit Ashley Phillips into the Welsh setup have not yet produced results.
The defender, contracted to Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and currently on loan at Stoke City F.C., was not included in the 26-man squad despite being eligible through family ties.
Phillips previously represented Wales at Under-16 level before switching to England youth teams.
Bellamy said the federation remains active in monitoring dual-nationality players for future opportunities.
Injuries have also affected squad selection, with Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore ruled out with hamstring problems.
Danny Ward of Wrexham A.F.C. returns after recovering from an elbow injury, while Rhys Norrington-Davies and Rabbi Matondo have also been recalled to the squad
