Wales headed to first World Cup in 64 years after win over Ukraine

Wales' Gareth Bale celebrates with teammates after qualifying for the Qatar World Cup following victory in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifier play-off final match. PA Images/Alamy Images

Wales headed to first FIFA World Cup in 64 years after win over Ukraine

By Adam Stites | Last updated 6/5/22

Wales earned a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Sunday with a 1-0 win against Ukraine, ending a more than six-decade drought. The only other time the Welsh national team has ever reached the World Cup was 1958 when it advanced to the quarterfinals, but lost to eventual-champion Brazil.

The only goal Sunday came in the 34th minute when Gareth Bale blasted a free kick that skipped off the head of Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko and into the back of the net.

BALE WITH THE BREAKTHROUGH FOR WALES pic.twitter.com/UOEvPHo7rp
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 5, 2022

The star of the match, though, was Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. He made nine saves, denying Ukraine on several golden opportunities to even the score.

¡Espectacular lo de Hennessey!

El arquero de Gales acaba de salvar de manera increíble lo que era el empate para Ucrania.

1-0 #Gales | #Ucrania | #Qatar2022

¡El partido está GRATIS y EN VIVO por @vix! Clic aquí https://t.co/FPYWlJM5S6 pic.twitter.com/wNpZ3Hnk9O
— Zona TUDN (@Zona_TUDN) June 5, 2022

Wales is one of the final teams to secure its spot in the 2022 World Cup after the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a lengthy delay of two matches that were originally set to happen in March. Wales beat Austria, 2-1, in March to put itself one win away from the World Cup, but had to wait until June for its next match. On Wednesday, Ukraine earned the right to play Wales by beating Scotland, 3-1.

In November, Wales will join the United States, England, and Iran in Group B. Wales' first match will be on Nov. 21 against the United States.

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