The only
World Cup appearance was in
1958 , when they drew all the matches in their group and reached the quarter-finals, losing 1–0 to
Brazil .
They have never qualified for the
European Championship , last losing in the playoffs for place in
Euro 2004 against
Russia , who had a player (
Egor Titov ) test positive for banned drug use after the first qualifying leg. The sport's governing body, however, decided to take no action against the team besides from asking them not to play Titov again. Many in Wales still feel aggrieved at the situation.
Former player
Mark Hughes served as manager through the 2004 season, but he left to concentrate on his new job as manager of
Blackburn Rovers of the
English Premiership .
John Toshack was appointed manager for the second time on
12 November 2004 , ten years after he had resigned from the position after one game in charge.
During the
Euro 2004 qualifying tournament Wales became the best supported national team in Europe, with an average attendance in excess of 70,000. The FAW's policy of cheaper tickets helped to contribute, but nonetheless it was a remarkable honour for a small nation, with little international success, and where
Football is arguably not even the national sport.
Wales play their home matches at the
Millennium Stadium .
- 1930 to 1938 - ''Did not enter''
- 1950 - ''Did not qualify''
- 1954 - ''Did not qualify''
- 1958 - Quarter-finals
- 1962 to 2006 - ''Did not qualify''
