The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States officially began today as UEFA conducted the much-anticipated European qualifying draw at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. The event revealed the groups in which European nations will battle for a place in the expanded 48-team tournament.

Here are the highlights and full group allocations from the draw:

Group A

  • Winner of Nations League quarter-final between Germany and Italy

  • Slovakia

  • Northern Ireland

  • Luxembourg

Group B

  • Switzerland

  • Sweden

  • Slovenia

  • Kosovo

Group C

  • Loser of Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark

  • Greece

  • Scotland

  • Belarus

Group D

  • Winner of Nations League quarter-final between France and Croatia

  • Ukraine

  • Iceland

  • Azerbaijan

Group E

  • Winner of Nations League quarter-final between Spain and Netherlands

  • Turkey

  • Georgia

  • Bulgaria

Group F

  • Winner of Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark

  • Hungary

  • Republic of Ireland

  • Armenia

Group G

  • Loser of Nations League quarter-final between Spain and Netherlands

  • Poland

  • Finland

  • Lithuania

  • Malta

Group H

  • Austria

  • Romania

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Cyprus

  • San Marino

Group I

  • Loser of Nations League quarter-final between Germany and Italy

  • Norway

  • Israel

  • Estonia

  • Moldova

Group J

  • Belgium

  • Wales

  • North Macedonia

  • Kazakhstan

  • Liechtenstein

Group K

  • England

  • Serbia

  • Albania

  • Latvia

  • Andorra

Group L

  • Loser of Nations League quarter-final between France and Croatia

  • Czech Republic

  • Montenegro

  • Faroe Islands

  • Gibraltar

England’s Path Under New Leadership

One of the key highlights from the draw is England’s placement in Group K, where they will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. This marks the beginning of a new chapter under their recently appointed head coach, Thomas Tuchel. As a Pot 1 team, England avoided other European heavyweights like France, Spain, and Germany, increasing their chances of securing direct qualification.

Tuchel, renowned for his tactical prowess, is expected to bring fresh energy to the squad as they aim to build on their success from previous international tournaments.

Format and Schedule

The qualifying matches will be played across 2025 and early 2026. Teams in groups with five members will begin their campaigns in March 2025, while those in four-team groups will start in September 2025.

Each group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runners-up will proceed to play-offs. Joining them in the play-offs will be the four best-ranked group winners from the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League who did not secure first or second place in their qualifying groups.

Competitive Outlook

With an expanded tournament format, Europe will have 16 spots in the 2026 World Cup, increasing the competition’s inclusivity. However, the draw has also raised eyebrows for its inclusion of Nations League quarter-final results, adding an extra layer of intrigue and complexity to the qualification process.

Looking Ahead

As the European qualifiers draw nearer, teams will begin preparations to ensure a strong start to their campaigns. Fans worldwide eagerly await to see which nations will seize their opportunity to shine on the global stage.

Stay tuned for updates as the journey to the World Cup continues!