Ben Cabango hoping for strong start to World Cup campaign

Ben Cabango and Wales head into their World Cup opener against the United States knowing the importance of a good start in tournament football.

Rob Page's squad will create a piece of Welsh football history when they take the pitch at the Al-Rayyan Stadium this evening, marking the first time a Wales side has featured in the global showpiece since 1958.

However, Wales do have recent tournament experience from their Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 campaigns, where they were able to build on positive results against Slovakia and Switzerland respectively in their opening games.

And defender Cabango, 22, hopes the World Cup squad can replicate that when they face Gregg Berhalter's American side.

"With the quality we have, and we have shown we can do it on the biggest stage.

"We know if we perform we are capable of taking on the best sides, it's just going to come down to how hard we are ready to work and believing in how far we can go.

"But you have to focus on one game at a time. It is the game against the United States first and it is important we get off to a good start.

"We will want to push on from there but it is important to start well."

Cabango admits he is living a childhood dream being involved on the game's biggest stage, with a World Cup video he had as a child helping develop his love of football.

"My first World Cup memory was of a video I had of the 2002 tournament with Ronaldo scoring all those goals for Brazil," he added.

"This is going to be a great experience. Then the one in South Africa was the first one I can remember actually watching live.

"So to be a part of it is a big achievement, for us as a squad and for myself to be selected.

"It's the stuff of dreams, it gives me goosebumps just to think about it."