England has been placed in Group K for the European qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra, following the draw conducted in Zurich on Friday.
New Era Under Tuchel
With Thomas Tuchel at the helm for the first time, England aims to maintain their streak of qualifying for every World Cup since 1994. Their matchup against Serbia recalls their opening game at Euro 2024, where they clinched a 1-0 victory via Jude Bellingham’s goal.
Qualifying Schedule and Format
The qualifiers will occur from March to November 2025, with group winners directly advancing to the tournament in North America. The runners-up will have an opportunity through play-offs, as Europe will send 16 teams to the now expanded 48-team World Cup.
Nations League Influence
However, the final composition of some groups is pending the outcomes of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals in March 2025. The results of these matches will determine which teams are placed in which groups:
- Spain vs. Netherlands: The winner joins Group E, the loser goes to Group G.
- Germany vs. Italy: The winner will head Group A, with the loser in Group I.
- Portugal vs. Denmark: The winner will be in Group F, the loser in Group C.
- France vs. Croatia: The winner will be in Group D, the loser in Group L.
Group Dynamics
- Group C: Scotland, looking to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, will face Greece, Belarus, and the loser of the Portugal-Denmark match. Notably, Scotland and Greece will also meet in a Nations League play-off.
- Group J: Wales, who qualified for the 2022 World Cup alongside Belgium, are grouped again with Belgium, plus North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein.
Full Group Listing
Here is the complete draw for the European qualifiers:
- Group A: Winner of Germany vs. Italy, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
- Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
- Group C: Loser of Portugal vs. Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus
- Group D: Winner of France vs. Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
- Group E: Winner of Spain vs. Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
- Group F: Winner of Portugal vs. Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
- Group G: Loser of Spain vs. Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
- Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
- Group I: Loser of Germany vs. Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
- Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
- Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
- Group L: Loser of France vs. Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
The draw sets the stage for an intriguing qualification phase, with teams like England and Scotland aiming to secure their spots in what will be a landmark World Cup in terms of size and scope.
