The Wales National Team have a history of posing badly for squad photos at major international tournaments, and the men’s team recently reminded everyone of that fact before their international friendly against Ghana.

Wales drew 1-1 with the African side, who have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, in Cardiff on Tuesday night. Caleb Yirenkyi put the visitors 1-0 up midway through the second half, but Lewis Koumas struck a last-gap equaliser for Craig Bellamy’s side.

Prior to kick-off, Wales’ players took part in their bizarre pre-match tradition of posing for their team photo in rather unusual fashion. See their awkward squad photo below:

It’s not just the men’s team who pose like this. Last summer, while making their long-awaited Women’s European Championship debut, Wales’ women’s team followed suit with their own peculiar team photo. See the picture below:

The chaotic pre-match squad photo has become part of tournament tradition for Wales these days, but some may not be aware of the origin story behind the random ritual.

It has been spotted at both women’s and men’s international tournaments since Euro 2016, when the men made it all the way to the semi-finals in France with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale starring.

Story Behind Wales’ Bizarre Pre-Match Squad Photos

Speaking back in 2016 – when the images first started to go viral – Joe Ledley outlined that they noticed they were getting “lucky” whenever they took an unusual squad photo.

“We were just not very good at them. At first, we didn’t look into it, but then gradually a few photos got together, and it was awful, so we just thought we may as well keep it the same,” he said, as per Belfast Live.

Jonny Williams backed up Ledley’s claims in 2016, adding: “I wasn’t there at the last game, but it looked on the TV like it’s got worse. I’ve been involved in a couple, but they were by accident, to be fair.

“I just don’t think we’re very good at them, and now we’re just doing it for banter I think, but I don’t know how much further we can go….unless we leave Wayne Hennessey on his own at the back!”

We won’t be seeing Wales’ strange team lineups at the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico because they failed to qualify for the showpiece international tournament. Bellamy’s men suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off semi-finals back in March. Their sights are now set on the UEFA Nations League, which gets underway in September.

Liverpool are doing everything to sign Yan Diomande for new manager Andoni Iraola before the World Cup starts, but one piece of information around a transfer regarding the Reds is wrong, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Liverpool are facing a transformational summer just 12 months after winning the Premier League title in what was Arne Slot’s debut season in charge at Anfield.

A year later, the Dutchman has lost his job and the Reds are on the verge of appointing Andoni Iraola in the dugout to replace him.

The 43-year-old’s stock rose during the second half of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, as his side ended the season on an 18-match unbeaten run that saw them finish sixth and qualify for the Champions League, all after losing Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City during the January transfer window.

The Spaniard will already know that he needs new players in his frontline especially ahead of next term, with Mohamed Salah leaving the club this summer and Hugo Ekitike unlikely to be available again for months after rupturing his Achilles.

Iraola has limited options in attack and Alexander Isak’s unavailability for much of this season suggests he cannot be relied on fitness wise either.

Sky Sports: Liverpool Working Hard on Yan Diomande Deal

According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, both Liverpool and Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain want to sign RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande.

According to the reporter, the Reds in particular are ‘doing everything’ to complete a deal for the winger before the World Cup starts on June 11.

Some reports have suggested that the ‘sensational’ 19-year-old has agreed to join both Liverpool and PSG already, but Plettenberg denies that is the case.

After a stunning breakthrough season, the Bundesliga outfit are said to be valuing their ‘superstar’ at €100m ahead of the summer transfer window.

Romano Hints at £100m Liverpool Striker Move

While Liverpool are looking to strengthen in the wide positions because of Salah’s exit, they may need a new striker too.

As mentioned previously, Isak showed in 2025-26 he shouldn’t be solely relied upon at a time when Ekitike is on the sidelines, and it means they could look to recruit another centre-forward.

While Fabrizio Romano didn’t confirm the Merseysiders’ interest in Eli Junior Kroupi at Bournemouth, he did hint that they could join the race for his signature once Iraola is confirmed as new Liverpool manager.

There are a lot of big clubs keen on the 19-year-old Cherries forward who, like Diomande, had a brilliant breakthrough campaign in the Premier League.

The teenager ended the campaign with 13 Premier League goals in 33 games, proving the huge potential he has for the future, although Liverpool would face competition from the likes of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature.

Twenty-four players who were born in England, making them eligible to play for the Three Lions, will represent other nations at the 2026 World Cup finals.

A study posted on Reddit found that 289 players in 2026 World Cup squads do not represent their country of birth. Only France (76 players) and Netherlands (44 players) have more players competing for other World Cup nations than England.

Only one player in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad wasn’t born in England. Manchester City defender Marc Guehi was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, but moved to London at the age of one.

Here are the 24 players born in England but representing other World Cup nations. Just imagine how strong Tuchel’s starting line-up would be this summer if these players had chosen to play for England instead.

DR Congo (Two Players)

DR Congo have two players who were born in England: West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kilmarnock midfielder Aaron Tshibola.

Both players represented England at youth level before opting to play for DR Congo as senior professionals. On his decision to play for DR Congo, Wan-Bissaka said: “It’s my country, where my parents come from. I grew up in a Congolese household, and I’m proud to represent it.”

Iraq (One Player)

Manchester United fans will be familiar with the name Zidane Iqbal. The Manchester-born midfielder was once touted as a potential first-team star but ended up making just one senior appearance for the Red Devils before moving to Dutch outfit Utrecht.

Iqbal had the choice to represent England, Iraq or Pakistan. Since 2022, the 23-year-old has played 22 times for Iraq, scoring two goals.

Ghana (Three Players)

England’s stars will meet Ghana in the World Cup group stages and face three players who were born in the same country as them.

Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo was born in London, as was Jerome Opoku, who started at Fulham but now plies his trade with Istanbul Basaksehir. Meanwhile, Milton Keynes-born Brandon Thomas-Asante will be a Premier League player with Coventry City next season.

New Zealand (Three Players)

Veteran centre-back Tommy Smith was born in Macclesfield and played for England U17s and U18s before switching to New Zealand, while defensive midfielder Joe Bell was born in Bristol.

Matthew Garbett was born in London but moved to New Zealand at a young age. He’s now back in England playing for Peterborough United.

Scotland (Five Players)

Scott McTominay is Scotland’s star player but was actually born in Lancaster, England. Tyler Fletcher, son of Darren, was born in Manchester and plays for the Red Devils alongside his twin brother Jack, who plays for England’s Under-19s.

Goalkeeper Angus Gunn played for England’s youth teams before switching his international allegiances to Scotland, while Leicester-born Che Adams and Sheffield-born George Hirst also began life south of the border.

Canada (Three Players)

Goalkeeper Owen Goodman was born in London but moved to Canada aged five. Although he resented Canada at Under-20 level, he also made two appearances after that for England’s U20s. However, he has been named in Canada’s 26-man World Cup squad.

Fulham defender Luc de Fougerolles was also born in London, while Middlesbrough’s Alfie Jones has spent his entire life living in England but is eligible to represent Canada through his grandmother.

USA (Three Players)

Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson was born in Milton Keynes, while Giovanni Reyna was born in Sunderland. Reyna’s father, former USA star Claudio, was playing for Sunderland at the time of his birth.

Their international teammate Sebastian Berhalter, who plays for Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps, was born in London but grew up in Columbus, Ohio.

France (One Player)

Michael Olise has cemented his status as one of the world’s best players since leaving Crystal Palace for Bayern Munich in 2024. The 2026 Ballon d’Or award contender was born and raised in London to a British-Nigerian father and Franco-Algerian mother.

“I actually come from four countries: France, Algeria, Nigeria and England.” Olise said. “I consider myself very lucky to possess these four parts, which all enrich me. I feel each individual part in me, I’ve developed attachments in all my countries.”

Switzerland (One Player)

Marvin Keller, one of Switzerland’s three 2026 World Cup goalkeepers, was born in London and only became a ‘keeper because his father bought him goalie gloves as a joke.

The 23-year-old, who also represented Switzerland at Under-19 and Under-21 level, has been on the books of Young Boys since 2023.

Norway (Two Players)

Like the USA’s Giovanni Reyna, Erling Haaland was born in England because his dad played professionally in the Premier League. However, there was never any doubt that Erling would follow in the footsteps of his dad, Alf-Inge, by representing Norway.

Former Liverpool youth player Thelo Aasgaard was also born in England but, like Erling, has only ever pulled on the Norway shirt.

Can you imagine England’s starting line-up with the likes of Haaland, Olise, McTominay and Semenyo added to it? They’d surely be the red-hot favourites to lift the World Cup trophy.