England learned that they would face Serbia in qualification for the 2026 World Cup at the draw for UEFA’s portion of preliminary matches, which was watched by Thomas Tuchel on Friday.
The incoming German manager was in attendance at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland to see the Three Lions drawn against their opponents in the Euro 2024 group stages. England will be favourites to top a qualification group which also includes Albania, Latvia and Andorra.
As the future winners of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, which are yet to be played, have to be drawn in a four-team group – to allow space in the calendar for that much-cherished mini-knockout tournament – there were several placeholders littered throughout the draw.
For example, the winner of the Nations League knockout tie between reigning Euro 2024 champions Spain and the Netherlands next March will be in Group E alongside Turkey, X and Y. The losers of that fixture find themselves up against the likes of Poland and Finland in Group G.
Scotland landed in Group C, and will face the loser of the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark. Wales had all their opponents confirmed, ensuring that they will be up against a Belgian side ranked eighth in the world.
The 12 qualification group winners earn automatic passage to the 2026 World Cup finals hosted in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The group runners-up are combined with the best-performing Nations League teams that didn’t make it through qualifying in a 16-team second round.
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Group I
Group J
Group K
Group L
Tuchel’s first match as England manager could very well be a World Cup qualifier. After agreeing to take over from interim boss Lee Carsley on 1 January, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager will not be able to work with his new players until the international break in March 2025.
That window also happens to be when World Cup qualifying begins for England and every other nation in Groups G through L. Countries that have been placed in one of the four-team groups (A-F), don’t begin qualifying until the first week of September 2025.
2026 World Cup qualifying schedule for UEFA teams
|
Matchday for Groups A-F |
Matchday for Groups 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 |
9-11 October 2025 |
|
4 |
8 |
12-14 October 2025 |
|
5 |
9 |
13-15 November 2025 |
|
6 |
10 |
16-18 November 2025 |
