World Cup 2026 qualifying draw: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland discover opponents | Football News

England will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in 2026 World Cup qualifying, whereas Scotland might face Portugal or Denmark, Wales meet Belgium and Northern Eire tackle both Germany or Italy.

England have been drawn in a five-team Group Ok, the place Thomas Tuchel will take cost of the Three Lions in opposition to a Serbia aspect they beat within the Euro 2024 group levels below Gareth Southgate, due to a headed winner from Jude Bellingham.

England will even face Albania, who they beat throughout 4 conferences in qualifiers for the 2002 and 2022 World Cups, Latvia – who they’ve by no means performed – and Andorra, who they beat by an combination rating of 9-0 throughout 2022 World Cup qualifying.

England’s first fixtures on this group shall be at house, with Albania visiting on March 21, 2025 and Latvia three days later.

Scotland will play in a four-team Group C, that includes the crew that loses the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark, in addition to Greece and Belarus.

Steve Clarke’s aspect will even face Greece in March over two legs to resolve in the event that they keep within the prime tier of the Nations League.

They kick off their World Cup qualifying marketing campaign with journeys to Portugal or Denmark on September 5, then Belarus three days later.

Wales have been drawn in five-team Group J with Belgium, Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein.

Wales famously beat Belgium at Euro 2016, and can begin their qualifying bid at house to Kazakhstan in March 2025, earlier than going through North Macedonia away.

“It is a good group,” mentioned Wales head coach Craig Bellamy. “We will must do our homework very well, and hopefully attempt to assault it and end prime of the group,” he mentioned.

Northern Eire will play within the four-team Group A in opposition to the winner of Germany or Italy from their Nations League quarter-final, in addition to Slovakia and Luxembourg. That group will start in September 2025 with Michael O’Neil’s aspect away to Luxembourg and Germany or Italy.

Republic of Eire will even begin their qualifying marketing campaign in September they usually have been drawn within the four-team Group F with the winner of the Portugal-Denmark Nations League quarter-final and opening opponents Hungary and Armenia.

Qualification is Tuchel’s ‘prime precedence’

Requested about going through Serbia and Albania, England boss Tuchel mentioned: “They’re at all times very proficient particular person gamers, a really emotional group, a really emotional crowd. To allow them to at all times shock.

“Now we have to take this very critically. It is a first fixture with Latvia, so a brand new problem for all of us.

“After which we’re clear favourites, in fact, in opposition to Andorra, however qualification is essential now. Qualification is prime precedence. Now we have to be critical. Now we have to be decided, and we have now to indicate what we’re up for on this group of 5.”

Tuchel was requested if he was assured of ending prime of the group, and replied: “I do not see it as a given. The hole closes an increasing number of between the massive nations and the small nations. You see it within the Euros currently.

“There are not any such factor as outcomes which are already completed earlier than the match is performed. The smaller nations have turn out to be stronger and stronger. So we have now to earn our place. Now we have to earn our prime spot.”

Clarke ‘determined’ to steer Scotland again to World Cup stage

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke informed Sky Sports activities Information:

“I am by no means one for trying too deep into attracts – you simply have to just accept what you get and get on with it. It might have been worse, might have been higher.

“[We face] a troublesome pot one crew – it does not matter if it is Portugal or Denmark. Greece we’ll get to know very properly over the subsequent yr as a result of we play them twice in March [in the Nations League play-offs] and twice once more later within the yr.

“Belarus, I do not know an excessive amount of about simply now, however I will ensure I do my homework and I will know much more about them by the point we get to enjoying them.

“We’re in a four-team group, we all know what we have now to do – end first or second to qualify.

“For everybody related with Scotland, we’re determined to get again to a World Cup. It was 1998 – a very long time in the past – I used to be nonetheless enjoying, in order that was a very long time in the past!

“We wish to get there. We recognize the Tartan Military wish to be there as properly – they confirmed that in Germany in the summertime – hopefully we will take them to USA, Mexico and Canada.”

What number of European groups qualify for the 2026 World Cup?

A complete of 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The 12 group winners qualify immediately, with the 4 remaining berths decided by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up.

The teams in full…

Group A

Germany or Italy (Nations League QF winner), Slovakia, Northern Eire, Luxembourg

Group B

Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo

Group C

Portugal or Denmark (Nations League QF loser), Greece, Scotland, Belarus

Group D

France or Croatia (Nations League QF winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan

Group E

Spain or Netherlands (Nations League QF winner), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria

Group F

Portugal or Denmark (Nations League QF winner), Hungary, Republic of Eire, Armenia

Group G

Spain or Netherlands (Nations League QF loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta

Group H

Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino

Group I

Germany or Italy (Nations League QF loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova

Group J

Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein

Group Ok

England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra

Group L

France or Croatia (Nations League QF loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar

World Cup 2026 European qualifiers: Key dates

• Group-stage match dates: March 21-25, June 6-10, September 4-9, October 9-14 and November 13-18, 2025
• Play-off match dates: March 26-31 2026
• Closing event dates: June 11 to July 19 2026

When and the place is the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA males’s World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The event will happen throughout 16 cities in three North American nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico. It’s the first time a World Cup has been hosted by three nations.

The final time North America hosted the event was in 1994, when Brazil triumphed after beating Italy on penalties.

An expanded World Cup will characteristic 48 groups – 16 greater than in Qatar 2022 – and happen throughout three host nations for the primary time.

2026 World Cup – certified groups

Solely three groups to this point are certain of their place on the finals: the hosts USA, Canada and Mexico.

World Cup 2026 schedule

The complete fixture listing with group video games and kick-off instances will solely be obtainable after the draw for the ultimate event, which FIFA says is anticipated to happen in direction of the top of 2025.

However FIFA has already introduced key dates and confirmed that the opening match shall be held in Mexico Metropolis, with the ultimate going down on the New York New Jersey Stadium – house of the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Group stage: June 11-27 Spherical of 32: June 28 to July 3 Spherical of 16: July 4-7 Quarter-finals: July 9/11 Semi-finals: July 14-15 Third-place play-off (‘Bronze ultimate’): July 18 Closing: July 19