December 13 – Thomas Tuchel’s first official duty as England’s new head coach was to see his team drawn in a 2026 World Cup qualifying group with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra today.
The former Bayern Munich and Chelsea boss starts work in January but was at FIFA headquarters to see the 54 European teams drawn into 12 qualifying groups.
Games start in March for the six groups with five teams, but the six with four teams will begin in September.
England will renew acquaintances with Serbia, whom they played at Euro 2024, but many teams remain in the dark over their group opponents.
The draw procedure meant that eight groups are not yet fully decided since they will contain either the winners or losers of the Nations League quarter-finals, which take place in March. Those ties will see reigning European champions Spain face the Netherlands, while Germany play Italy, Portugal take on Denmark and France meet Croatia.
Group winners qualify directly for the first ever 48-nation finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The runners-up in each of the 12 European qualifying groups will get a second chance via a series of play-offs, with Europe now contributing a total of 16 nations to the expanded format.
France, winners in 2018 and runners-up in Qatar, will be in a group with Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan should they reach the Nations League final four.
However, should they go out of the Nations League to Croatia in the last eight, they will go into a group containing the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands and Gibraltar.
Spain, who won the last edition of the Nations League, will be in a group with Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria should they defeat the Netherlands in their quarter-final. The loser of that tie will be placed in Group G with Poland, Finland, Lithuania and Malta.
If Germany beats Italy in March it will be in Group A with Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg. The loser of that game will land in Group I with Erling Haaland’s Norway, Israel, Estonia and Moldova.
Russia was excluded from today’s draw because its international and club teams are still banned by FIFA and UEFA because of the military invasion of Ukraine.
The World Cup will start on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City and end on July 19 in New Jersey. The expanded tournament will last a record 39 days, with the new format of the finals featuring 12 four-team groups and a last-32 knockout round for the first time.
European qualifying groups:
Group A: Germany or Italy (winner of Nations League QF), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, 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, Ireland, 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 K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.
Group L: France or Croatia (loser of Nations League QF), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faeroe Islands, Gibraltar.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734894961labto1734894961ofdlr1734894961owedi1734894961sni@w1734894961ahsra1734894961w.wer1734894961dna1734894961