23 December 2024

England learned they will face Serbia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, in the draw for the UEFA preliminary round, which Thomas Tuchel watched on Friday.

The incoming German coach was present at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland to watch the Three Lions draw against their opponents in the group stages of Euro 2024. England will be favorites to top the qualifying group that also includes Albania, Latvia and Andorra.

As future winners European Nations League quarter-finalswhich has not yet been played, will have to be drawn in a group of four teams – to make room in the calendar for that frequently eliminated mini-tournament – There were numerous placeholders scattered throughout the draw.

For example, the winner of a Nations League knockout match between the referee Euro 2024 champions Next March, Spain and the Netherlands will be in Group E, alongside Türkiye, X and Y. The losers of that match will find themselves facing teams such as Poland and Finland in Group G.

Scotland qualified for Group C, and will face the loser of the European Nations League quarter-finals between Portugal and Denmark. All Wales' opponents have been confirmed, ensuring they will face Belgium, ranked eighth in the world.

The winners of the 12 qualifying groups earn automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup finals hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The group runners-up are combined with the best-performing Nations League teams that were unable to qualify for the 16-team second round.

The draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers will take place in Zurich

A large number of former footballers participated in Friday's draw/Anadolu/Getty Images

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

First group

Group J

Group K

Group L

Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel was appointed England coach in October/Ryan Pearce/Getty Images

Tuchel's first match As England coach he could be eligible for the World Cup. After agreeing to take over from interim coach Lee Carsley on January 1, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss will not be able to work with his new players until the March 2025 international break.

This also occurs when World Cup qualifiers begin for England and every other country in Groups G to L. Countries placed in one of the four-team groups (AF) do not begin qualifying until the first week of September 2025.

2026 World Cup qualifiers schedule for European Union teams

Match day for AF groups

Match day for GL groups

Dates

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1

March 21-22, 2025

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2

March 24-25, 2025

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3

June 6-7, 2025

nothing

4

June 9-10, 2025

1

5

September 4-6, 2025

2

6

September 7-9, 2025

3

7

October 9-11, 2025

4

8

October 12-14, 2025

5

9

November 13-15, 2025

6

10

November 16-18, 2025

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