[6] England's first qualifying campaign in his new role was for the 1982 FIFA World Cup and consecutive 4–0 victories over Iceland and Turkey in their opening games led him to declare that Wales were "heading for the finals in 1982".
[20] Wales' entered their final game needing a point against the Soviet Union to qualify but their preparations were disrupted as the Russian authorities demanded that the Welsh side first travel to Riga and then Tbilisi before changing the team's hotel on arrival with England accusing the opposition of "trying to make things uncomfortable for us".
[23] Wales went on to lose the match 1–0 while England complained of the Bulgarians physical tactics, especially against Ian Rush who commented that he had "received the most savage treatment I had ever had to take", including being spat on by opposition substitutes.
[24] The final competition began with a 2–1 defeat to Scotland but Wales went on to record a victory over England, with Mark Hughes scoring the only goal on his debut, and drew with eventual winners Northern Ireland.
[30][31] Spain's victory over Iceland, combined with the draw to Scotland, meant Wales had failed to qualify for the previous three major international tournament in their final match.
His first match as the permanent manager was a defeat to the Netherlands in September 1988 in Wales' opening qualifier for the 1990 FIFA World Cup and a 2–2 draw with Finland a month later essentially ended their hopes of qualification early on.
[37] Their following qualifier against West Germany was moved to the National Stadium and attracted a positive response from the manager, players and fans as a goalless draw raised more than £250,000 in revenue for the FAW.
The ground was sold out for the game, which turned in favour of Wales when Germany were reduced to ten men as Thomas Berthold was dismissed after an altercation with Kevin Ratcliffe.
Yorath was absent for a friendly defeat to the Netherlands and the team's two matches in the Kirin Cup tournament held in Japan following the sudden death of his son, with Shreeves again taking charge.
[44] Yorath led his team to four further qualifying matches without defeat, beating both Cyprus and the Faroe Islands and drawing both ties against the Representation of Czechs and Slovaks.
[b][44] Wales faced a deciding game against Romania in their final match, with four teams in the group still able to qualify depending on the results, with a win almost guaranteeing qualification.
Yorath was ultimately informed that he would not be offered a new deal and the FAW eventually appointed John Toshack as the new manager, alongside his club role with Spanish side Real Sociedad.
[48][49] With many new nations gaining independence following the breakups of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, Wales faced three opponents for the first time in qualifying for the 1996 European Championships, Georgia, Albania and Moldova, along with Bulgaria and Germany.
Two defeats to Bulgaria led to Smith coming under increasing pressure and, despite earning a point away to Germany in April 1995, his contract was terminated after a 1–0 loss to Georgia.
Serving as the manager of the Wales national team from 1999 to 2004, Hughes played a pivotal role in transforming the fortunes of Welsh football and instilling a renewed sense of belief and ambition within the squad.
Through his strategic acumen, astute player selection, and emphasis on teamwork, Hughes led Wales to significant milestones and set the stage for future successes.
He successfully integrated emerging talents, such as Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy, and Simon Davies, into the national team, providing them with valuable international experience and enabling their growth as key contributors.
His man-management skills and ability to create a cohesive unit helped Wales to maximize their potential and achieve notable results against formidable opponents.
Wales' qualification for the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and their journey to the semi-finals demonstrated the lasting impact of Hughes' tenure and the subsequent growth of Welsh football.
Toshack faced challenges in terms of player availability due to injuries and retirements, further hampering his ability to build a cohesive and competitive team.
Toshack's tactical choices, including experimental formations and frequent changes in personnel, which often disrupted the team's rhythm and hindered their ability to develop a consistent playing style.
Close friends and former teammates such as Robbie Savage, Ryan Giggs, Simon Grayson, Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy and John Hartson all expressed their deep sorrow at his death.
[68][69][70][71] Many British politicians expressed sadness at Speed's death and sent condolences to his family, including Prime Minister David Cameron and Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband.
[74] Speed's work to improve the professional standard of the Football Association of Wales, including improvements to training facilities, team culture, and its national visibility, was credited as a major contributor to the success that Wales would enjoy in the decade after his death, beginning with their qualification for Euro 2016 and culminating in their appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, bringing to an end a 64-year drought at the World Cup.
[81] Wales' first match in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification was on 7 September at home to Belgium, with centre back James Collins sent off for a late lunge on Guillaume Gillet in the 25th minute of an eventual 0–2 loss.
[84] On 26 March 2013, in a qualifier against Croatia at the Liberty Stadium, Wales led 1–0 for the majority of the game through a Gareth Bale penalty, but two late goals from the opponents ended any hopes of qualification.
[89] In their round of 16 match at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Wales played Northern Ireland and won 1–0 after Bale's cross was put in as an own goal by Gareth McAuley.
[93] On 23 May 2016, it was announced at a Football Association of Wales press conference that Coleman had signed a two-year contract extension to take in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
[120] Wales were eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage, having won just one point; they came from behind to earn a 1–1 draw against the United States, before losing 2–0 to Iran and 3–0 to England.
Wales kicked off their qualifying campaign against Croatia, on 25 March 2023, resulting in a 1–1 draw through a well-worked Nathan Broadhead goal, where he came on off the bench and scored with his first touch in the 90th+1 minute.