Wales vs North Macedonia Prediction 19 November 2025

🔈 Which team will seize the chance to qualify for the upcoming World Cup? One of the most intriguing matchups of the final day in the European qualifiers will take place at Cardiff City Stadium. Here, the national teams of Wales and North Macedonia will go head-to-head. The Dragons and the Red Lions are tied on points and are battling for the second spot in the standings, which grants a playoff opportunity. It's crucial to note that due to goal difference, only a win will suffice for the hosts, while the visitors can advance with just a draw. Bookmakers are factoring in the home advantage and are giving Craig Bellamy's squad threefold odds of winning.

Head-to-Head

📊 In the first round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, neither team managed to assert dominance, ending in a 1-1 draw. During their head-to-head clash in Skopje, Bojan Miovski's goal was countered by a strike from David Brooks. Prior to this, the teams last met in 2013 during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Notably, neither side secured a spot in the main tournament back then, with each team claiming victory on home soil in their encounters.

Wales Team Overview

🔴 The "Dragons" have a prime opportunity to secure a spot in the main stage of the World Cup. Craig Bellamy's squad is known for their organized play, which has been paying off in the current qualification phase. After seven matches, Wales have accumulated 13 points, with only two losses against the group's clear favorites, Belgium (3-4, 2-4). Notably, the team averages two goals per game while conceding 1.43. The Welsh are renowned for their resilience, often staging comebacks in matches.

📌 Last weekend, the "Dragons," despite a significant advantage in class, narrowly secured victory against Liechtenstein (1-0). The lone goal in the recent match was scored by Jordan James, a 21-year-old talent of the Welsh team. Craig Bellamy favors pragmatic football, employing a 4-4-2 formation. The presence of speedy wingers regularly exploits space in counterattacks, while a physically strong defensive line ensures reliability in curbing opponents' attacking threats. The most pivotal player for the "Dragons" in this qualifying cycle is Sorba Thomas, who has already contributed six goal involvements (1 goal, 5 assists).

North Macedonia Team Overview

🔴 The North Macedonia national team is on the verge of a historic achievement—qualifying for the World Cup. The "Red Lions" have never reached the main stage of the tournament in their history. Moreover, they have only participated in the European Championships once, back in 2021. Notably, Blagoja Milevski's side remains unbeaten in the current qualification phase. However, some unexpected dropped points have prevented the team from securing an early spot among the top two in their group.

🟡 During the November international break, the "Red Lions" played only a friendly against Latvia (0-0). Despite a significant class difference and home advantage, Blagoja Milevski's squad failed to turn their dominance into victory. The tactical setup for North Macedonia revolves around a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on midfield compactness and providing width on the flanks. Let's highlight the team's average performance in the current qualifying campaign—1.71 goals scored per match while conceding just 0.43. The most prolific players for the "Red Lions" are Bojan Miovski (2+1) and Aleksandar Trajkovski (2+0).

Latest news

Wales

📰 Nottingham Forest's full-back Neco Williams was named the standout player in the recent match against Liechtenstein. The 24-year-old defender excelled in individual duels and played a pivotal role in developing attacks down the right flank. After the match, Williams stated: "We came here, secured three points, and kept a clean sheet. That was our main objective, and now we face an important match against North Macedonia." There were also comments from Jordan James, who scored his debut goal for the national team: "I've been waiting for this; it's been a long time coming. It happened at the right moment. I'm working on getting into the right areas, and it paid off. It was tough; they were hard to break down. We knew it wouldn't be easy, but we got the three points, and that's what matters when you come to places like this."

❌ Among the injured players for Wales are Danny Ward, Ben Davies, and Connor Roberts.

North Macedonia

📰 One cannot overlook the significant progress made by the North Macedonia national team in recent years. Notably, only 3 out of the 29 players in the squad play in the domestic league. Currently, the "Red Lions" hold a commendable 65th position in the FIFA world rankings. The total market value of the squad stands at €37.60 million. Among the most valuable players are Elif Elmas (€14 million, Napoli), Enis Bardhi (€3 million, Konyaspor), and Bojan Miovski (€3 million, Rangers). The team's strength lies not in individual brilliance but in a systematic approach and organized play across all lines.

❌ It's crucial to highlight the North Macedonia players who are unable to contribute in crucial matchups due to various injuries: Ezgjan Alioski, Visar Musliu, and Jovan Manev.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The upcoming clash will be officiated by a team of referees led by Dutch referee Danny Makkelie. Known for his leniency, Makkelie allows the game to flow without excessive whistling. On average, he shows about 3.45 yellow cards per match. Let's also consider the average number of bookings each team has received in the current qualifying campaign: Wales – 1.7, North Macedonia – 2.4. Our editorial pick is under 5.5 total yellow cards.

⚽ Goal Prediction

In 6 of North Macedonia's last 8 matches, there have been no more than 2 goals scored. The "Red Lions" have an average scoring rate of just 2.1 goals per game in this qualification round. Given the critical nature of the upcoming encounter with Wales, and considering that a draw would suffice for the visitors, our editorial team does not anticipate a high-scoring game. We lean towards the event – under 2.5 total goals.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Craig Bellamy's side will need to see more of the ball as only a win will suffice in their upcoming home game. Let's focus on the average number of corners earned by each team during the qualifying campaign: Wales – 6.4, North Macedonia – 4.1. Notably, the "Red Lions" concede corners more frequently than their opponents: 5.4 compared to 4.1. Our choice is Wales individual total corners over 5.5.

This matchup is arguably one of the most intriguing on Tuesday's schedule, driven by a tournament situation that heightens the tension to its peak. As noted earlier, it's unlikely anyone will rush into attack mode from the first whistle. We anticipate a measured game with few scoring opportunities. We predict a final score of 1-1, with a key bet on under 2.5 goals scored.