<P> The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body . The championship has been contested every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, due to World War II . The Wales national football team has entered every World Cup since the 1950 tournament, but to date has only qualified for one World Cup, in 1958 . On that occasion, they reached the quarter - finals before being eliminated by eventual winners Brazil . </P> <P> During the preparations for the 1928 Olympic Football Tournament, FIFA ruled that all its member associations must provide "broken time" payments to cover the expenses of players from their country who participated . In response to what they considered to be unacceptable interference, the football associations of Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland held a meeting at which they agreed to resign from FIFA . As a result, Wales did not compete in the three interwar World Cup competitions . The Football Association of Wales did not rejoin FIFA as a permanent member until 1946 . </P>

When was the last time wales were in the world cup