England discovered that they might face Serbia in qualification for the 2026 World Cup on the draw for UEFA’s portion of preliminary matches, which was watched by Thomas Tuchel on Friday.
The incoming German supervisor was in attendance at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland to see the Three Lions drawn towards their opponents within the Euro 2024 group levels. England might be favourites to high a qualification group which additionally consists of Albania, Latvia and Andorra.
As the long run winners of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, that are but to be performed, should be drawn in a four-team group – to permit area within the calendar for that much-cherished mini-knockout event – there have been a number of placeholders littered all through the draw.
For instance, the winner of the Nations League knockout tie between reigning Euro 2024 champions Spain and the Netherlands subsequent March might be in Group E alongside Turkey, X and Y. The losers of that fixture discover themselves up towards the likes of Poland and Finland in Group G.
Scotland landed in Group C, and can face the loser of the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark. Wales had all their opponents confirmed, guaranteeing that they are going to be up towards a Belgian facet ranked eighth on the planet.
The 12 qualification group winners earn automated passage to the 2026 World Cup finals hosted within the USA, Mexico and Canada. The group runners-up are mixed with the best-performing Nations League groups that did not make it by means of qualifying in a 16-team second spherical.
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Group I
Group J
Group Ok
Group L
Tuchel’s first match as England supervisor may very nicely be a World Cup qualifier. After agreeing to take over from interim boss Lee Carsley on 1 January, the previous Chelsea and Bayern Munich supervisor won’t be able to work along with his new gamers till the worldwide break in March 2025.
That window additionally occurs to be when World Cup qualifying begins for England and each different nation in Teams G by means of L. Nations which were positioned in one of many four-team teams (A-F), do not start qualifying till the primary week of September 2025.
2026 World Cup qualifying schedule for UEFA groups
Matchday for Teams A-F | Matchday for Teams G-L | Dates |
|---|---|---|
N/A | 1 | 21-22 March 2025 |
N/A | 2 | 24-25 March 2025 |
N/A | 3 | 6-7 June 2025 |
N/A | 4 | 9-10 June 2025 |
1 | 5 | 4-6 September 2025 |
2 | 6 | 7-9 September 2025 |
3 | 7 | September 11 October 2025 |
4 | 8 | 12-14 October 2025 |
5 | 9 | 13-15 November 2025 |
6 | 10 | 16-18 November 2025 |
