Wales manager Gary Speed has declared himself happy with his side’s fixture list for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Speed’s men open their Group A campaign by hosting Belgium on Friday, September 7, next year.

And Wales will conclude their challenge for a place in Brazil with a tough trip to Belgium in October 2013.

Scotland come to Wales in October 2012 before the return game in March 2013.

And former Wales boss John Toshack returns home with his Macedonia side in October 2013.

The fixtures were confirmed after a meeting of the Group A rivals in Brussels yesterday and Speed is pleased that all the Welsh matches are Friday and Tuesday double-headers.

“This is such a well-balanced group that we knew everyone would be looking for an early advantage,” said Speed.

“As always, there had to be some give and take, but I am very glad that we did not have to use the June qualifying dates.

“All the matches are double headers for us so we need to keep our good form going now through the friendly matches that we have and on to the start of the qualifiers next autumn and beyond.”

A rejuvenated Wales have won four of their last five games under Speed but the Welsh have not qualified for a World Cup since 1958.

The nine group winners are guaranteed a place in Brazil.

The four other places available for European teams will be decided via play-off games between the eight-best second-placed teams.

The finals will take place between June 12 and July 13 in 2014.

“It was a hard and sometimes frustrating day,” Wales assistant Raymond Verheijen posted on Twitter.

“But now we can't wait for our first home game vs Belgium on Friday Sep 7.”

Wales fixtures

2012 September 7: Belgium (h) September 11: Serbia (a) October 12: Scotland (h) October 16: Croatia (a) 2013 March 22: Scotland (a) March 26: Croatia (h) September 6: Macedonia (a) September 10: Serbia (h) October 11: Macedonia (h) October 15: Belgium (a)