European draw for 2026 group qualifying sees England rematched with Serbia

December 13 – Thomas Tuchel’s first official responsibility as England’s new head coach was to see his staff drawn in a 2026 World Cup qualifying group with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra as we speak.

The previous Bayern Munich and Chelsea boss begins work in January however was at FIFA headquarters to see the 54 European groups drawn into 12 qualifying teams.

Video games begin in March for the six teams with 5 groups, however the six with 4 groups will start in September.

England will renew acquaintances with Serbia, whom they performed at Euro 2024, however many groups stay at the hours of darkness over their group opponents.

The draw process meant that eight teams usually are not but absolutely determined since they may comprise both the winners or losers of the Nations League quarter-finals, which occur in March. These ties will see reigning European champions Spain face the Netherlands, whereas Germany play Italy, Portugal tackle Denmark and France meet Croatia.

Group winners qualify straight for the primary ever 48-nation finals within the USA, Canada and Mexico. The runners-up in every of the 12 European qualifying teams will get a second likelihood through a sequence of play-offs, with Europe now contributing a complete of 16 nations to the expanded format.

France, winners in 2018 and runners-up in Qatar, will likely be in a gaggle with Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan ought to they attain the Nations League closing 4.

Nevertheless, ought to they exit of the Nations League to Croatia within the final eight, they may go into a gaggle containing the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands and Gibraltar.

Spain, who gained the final version of the Nations League, will likely be in a gaggle with Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria ought to they defeat the Netherlands of their quarter-final. The loser of that tie will likely be positioned in Group G with Poland, Finland, Lithuania and Malta.

If Germany beats Italy in March it is going to be in Group A with Slovakia, Northern Eire, Luxembourg. The loser of that recreation will land in Group I with Erling Haaland’s Norway, Israel, Estonia and Moldova.

Russia was excluded from as we speak’s draw as a result of its worldwide and membership groups are nonetheless banned by FIFA and UEFA due to the navy invasion of Ukraine.

The World Cup will begin on June 11, 2026 in Mexico Metropolis and finish on July 19 in New Jersey. The expanded match will final a document 39 days, with the brand new format of the finals that includes 12 four-team teams and a last-32 knockout spherical for the primary time.

European qualifying teams:

Group A: Germany or Italy (winner of Nations League QF), Slovakia, Northern Eire, Luxembourg.

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

Group C: Portugal or Denmark (loser of Nations League QF), Greece, Scotland, Belarus.

Group D: France or Croatia (winner of Nations League QF), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Spain or Netherlands (winner of Nations League QF), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.

Group F: Portugal or Denmark (winner of Nations League QF), Hungary, Eire, Armenia,

Group G: Spain or Netherlands (loser of Nations League QF), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.

Group I: Germany or Italy (loser of Nations League QF), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.

Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group Ok: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.

Group L: France or Croatia (loser of Nations League QF), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faeroe Islands, Gibraltar.

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