Robert Page to check out Wales’ World Cup facilities after sealing qualification

Robert Page is heading to Qatar to run the rule over Wales’ World Cup operation.

Manager Page has previously stayed clear of Wales’ logistical planning in the Gulf state because he did not want to “chance my luck”.

Wales, like other teams involved in the play-offs, had to put initial plans in place even before qualification for the 2022 finals in November and December was confirmed.

Page said: “We’ve had staff go out to select the hotel and training facilities.

“The training facilities are second to none, but I didn’t want to go out before (qualification).

“I didn’t want to chance my luck. Now it’s official, I’m going out to cross the t’s and dot the i’s on the training facilities and accommodation.

“I want to make sure everything is in place, to have a look and sort out the logistics of it.

“We’ll speak again with the administrators to see what we can do to influence our senior players.

“Is that sending out our medical team to the clubs to be with them to make sure they are in tip-top condition ready for September, and then November?”

With Wales playing on the opening day of the World Cup, against the United States on November 21, Page has confirmed there is no scope to play a pre-tournament friendly.

Players will be involved in domestic action on the weekend of November 12-13 before reporting for World Cup duty at Wales’ Vale of Glamorgan base.

The squad are expected to fly to Qatar the following Tuesday or Wednesday.

“We’ll have a short period to acclimatise to the conditions,” said Page, whose side will also play group games against England and Iran.

“We’ll have three or four sessions on grass before we play the first game at the World Cup.

“Before that we’ve got two games in September, Belgium away and Poland at