Gareth Bale's World Cup in doubt as Wales star forced to miss LAFC's MLS semi-final with leg injury | The Sun

GARETH BALE'S World Cup dream could be in doubt after he was ruled out of LAFC's MLS semi-final through injury.

The Wales captain, 33, is due to lead his nation to their first global tournament since 1958 next month.

However, he will now be sweating over his fitness with just four weeks to go until the Dragons' opener against USA.

Bale missed Los Angeles' 3-2 win over local rivals LA Galaxy on Thursday.

He sat in the stands to watch the crucial victory while Giorgio Chiellini was used as a late substitute while Cristian Arango scored a 93rd-minute winner.

LAFC will play in the Western Conference final on October 30 against either Austin or Dallas.

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It means Bale has played just five minutes of football for his club side since his 90-minute run-out for Wales against Poland in September.

And despite making 12 appearances for his new team since his debut in July, just two of those came as a starter for the £38,400-a-week winger.

Bale spent nine years with Real Madrid, winning the Champions League five times, before his contract expired in the summer.

He only managed seven appearances in his final season with Los Blancos.

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But he saved his best form for international duty – with crucial goals against Austria and Ukraine to fire Wales to Qatar 2022.

Bale's deflected free-kick proved the only goal of the play-off in Cardiff.

And it ensured Wales' place in Group B alongside neighbours England, Iran and the Americans.

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