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| (L-R) Giorgos Tzavellas of Greece, Rodrigo of Spain during the World Cup Qualifier match between Greece v Spain at the Spyros Louis on November 11, 2021 in Athens Greece. |
Wales are officially guaranteed at least a place in the World Cup play-offs after Spain beat Greece 1-0.
Wales started their qualifying campaign knowing they had all but secured a play-off spot having won their Nations League group.
Spain's win in Athens formally seals it, even if Wales finish outside the top two in their qualifying group.
Wales must finish second to have any chance of being seeded for March's play-offs.
Teams who reach the play-offs via the Nations League are unseeded and will be away in their semi-final to a seeded nation.
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| Alvaro Morata of Spain during the World Cup Qualifier match between Greece v Spain at the Spyros Louis on November 11, 2021 in Athens Greece. |
Wales can guarantee a top-two finish with four points from their final two qualifiers at home to Belarus on Saturday and Belgium on Tuesday.
Wales could theoretically qualify automatically - they are five points behind Group E leaders Belgium with two games to go - but they would need the world's number one ranked side to lose to Estonia as well as to Rob Page's men in Cardiff.
If Wales beat Belarus and lose to Belgium - and the Czech Republic beat Estonia in their only remaining game - the play-off spot would go down to goal difference. The Czechs are currently two ahead on that metric.
Even if Wales do finish outside the top two, they now have a play-off place guaranteed.
