Wales vs North Macedonia prediction: EUROPE: World Cup – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-11-17 19:45.
[p]Progression from Group J to the FIFA World Cup qualification (WCQ) play-offs hinges on this showdown in Cardiff, with Wales and North Macedonia battling it out to secure a top-two finish.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Wales’ WCQ fate remains in their own hands after they ground out a 1-0 win away at Liechtenstein on Saturday, yet despite selection issues plaguing the squad, a below-par performance will have done little to inspire confidence ahead of this crucial encounter. Their task is simple in that only a win will do if the Dragons are to secure the best possible seeding in March’s play-offs, but Craig Bellamy’s side do appear vulnerable at home having lost their last two games on Welsh soil, last losing three in a row on their own turf back in 2012.[/p]
[p]North Macedonia head to the Welsh capital needing just to avoid defeat to advance to the play-offs via a top-two finish, where they’d be looking to avenge losing at the same stage in trying to reach the 2022 edition. Having never reached a World Cup finals as an independent nation, the Lynxes appear closer than ever to breaking their duck having gone unbeaten in this WCQ cycle (W3, D4). They have also lost just one of their last 15 matches (W8, D6), with their last defeat on opposition soil coming back in June 2024 (W4, D2).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Neither side has the upper hand after three previous H2Hs, with both registering a home win before the reverse fixture was drawn 1-1 in March.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Wales’ last four competitive home games produced over 2.5 goals.[/p]
[p]Wales have scored before half-time in their last five competitive home matches.[/p]
[p]Eight of North Macedonia’s last ten competitive goals came after half-time.[/p]
[p]None of North Macedonia’s last five competitive away games have seen both teams score.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Four of David Brooks’ five Wales goals have come after the hour mark, including two beyond the 90th minute, one of which came in the reverse fixture. North Macedonia’s Bojan Miovski has failed to score in his last ten appearances for club and country, and they’ll be desperate for him to score as he’s unbeaten in eight matches when netting for the Lynxes (W6, D2).[/p]
[p]Wales’ selection issues mounted on Saturday when midfield duo Ethan Ampadu and Jordan James were booked and will subsequently be suspended here. North Macedonia look to be without Ezgjan Alioski, Visar Musliu and Jani Atanasov.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given Wales’ array of absences, there may be value in backing North Macedonia to win and pull off an upset here.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]