World Cup qualifying draw LIVE: England and Scotland discover opponents as 2026 groups drawn

World Cup qualifying draw LIVE: England and Scotland discover opponents as 2026 groups drawn
World Cup qualifying draw LIVE: England and Scotland discover opponents as 2026 groups drawn

Curtis Jones speaks after debut England goal

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England will play Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in World Cup 2026 qualifying, in what will be Thomas Tuchel’s first games in charge after replacing Gareth Southgate.

The Three Lions, who were among the top seeds for the qualifying draw, were placed in the five-team Group K.  First place in each group automatically secures a spot at the finals – in Canada, Mexico and the United States – in 18 months.

Many of the groups are not yet complete and will depend on the outcome of the Nations League quarter-finals, which will be played in March.

Scotland will play the loser of the tie between Portugal and Denmark, along with Greece and Belarus in the four-team Group C

Wales will once again take on Belgium, as well as North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein in the five-team Group J.

Northern Ireland will meet the winners of Germany and Italy’s quarter-final, as well as Slovakia and Luxembourg in the four-team Group A .

Meanwhile the Republic of Ireland will face the winner of Portugal and Denmark’s quarter-final, as well as Hungary and Armenia in the four-team Group F.

Qualifying runs from late March 2025 through to mid-November, with play-offs for those who need them being played out in March 2026.

Follow the live blog for the 2026 World Cup qualifying groups below:

World Cup qualifying draw, full results:

Group A: Winner of Germany vs Italy, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

Group C: Loser of Portugal vs Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus.

Group D: Winner of vs Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Winner of Spain vs Netherlands, Turkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria.

Group F: Winner of Portugal vs Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.

Group G: Loser of Spain vs Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovenia, Cyprus, San Marino.

Group I: Loser of Germany vs Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.

Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group K: EnglandSerbia, Albania, Lavia, Andorra.

Group L: Loser of France vs Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.

Mike Jones13 December 2024 12:01

The absurd image that sums up Fifa’s ‘tinpot dictatorship’ as Saudi Arabia awarded World Cup

And that was only the half of it. The tinny applause came from a display of Big Brother-style screens, Fifa president Gianni Infantino standing proudly in front of it. It was an image that somehow represented a devolution from the shock on Sepp Blatter’s face as he read out “Qatar” on that day in 2010.

Mike Jones13 December 2024 13:11

Thomas Tuchel reacts to World Cup qualifying draw

Asked about facing Serbia and Albania, Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 Live:

“They are always very talented individual players, a very emotional group, a very emotional crowd. So they can always surprise. We have to take this very seriously. It’s a first fixture with Latvia, so a new challenge for all of us.

“And then we are clear favourites, of course, against Andorra, but qualification is key now. Qualification is top priority. We have to be serious. We have to be determined, and we have to show what we’re up for in this group of five.”

Tuchel was asked if he was confident of finishing top of the group, and added: “I don’t see it as a given. The gap closes more and more between the big nations and the small nations. You see it in the Euros lately.

“There are no such thing as results that are already done before the match is played. The smaller nations have become stronger and stronger. So we have to earn our place. We have to earn our top spot.”

Mike Jones13 December 2024 13:10

England handed friendly draw in 2026 World Cup qualifying as Thomas Tuchel era begins

Scotland are in a four-team group, and will face whichever team loses the Nations League quarter-final tie between Portugal and Denmark, along with Greece and Belarus.

Mike Jones13 December 2024 12:36

Pedro Martinez Losa leaves Scotland role after Euro 2025 qualifying failure

Pedro Martinez Losa has left his post as Scotland women’s national team boss after failing to qualify for Euro 2025.

The Scottish FA confirmed the decision on Friday morning after the Scots missed out on another major tournament earlier this month, losing 2-0 to Finland in the play-off final second leg after a goalless first leg at Easter Road.

Mike Jones13 December 2024 12:27

We should all be worried about Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup

A piece of legislation currently making its way through parliament in the UK – the Governance Bill, at the committee stage in the House of Lords – should explicitly rule out individuals and entities implicated in grave human rights abuses from securing stakes in football clubs in England and Wales. The new Human Rights Watch report about how Saudi Arabia is using its sovereign wealth fund, which holds a majority stake in Newcastle United, is a prime example.

Mike Jones13 December 2024 12:17

Northern Ireland will find it tough

Northern Ireland’s group will feature either Germany or Italy. Both teams will be near impossible to beat on their day.

Slovakia are also tricky customers and very adept at making it out of qualifying but Northern Ireland will need some positive results against them if they hope to progress.

Luxembourg have to be their bankers. They’ll need two wins from two against them to have any chance of going through.

Mike Jones13 December 2024 12:15

Bellamy will be excited

Being in Pot 1 meant that England were more than likely going to get drawn against favourable teams. Wales on the other hand have pulled a rabbit out of the hat.

Belgium will always be tough but North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein should all be beatable.

Craig Bellamy will be rubbing his hands together at the prospect of a World Cup play-off (at the very least) and maybe even an automatic spot for the tournament itself.

Mike Jones13 December 2024 12:13

Scotland have testing but pleasing draw

I think the most interesting draw for the home nations is Scotland’s.

Portugal/Denmark, Greece and Belarus are all teams that Steve Clarke’s men can perform well against so there is a real chance they can make it through qualifying.

Yet, a stumble here and there could mean they falter against teams who are defensively sound (Denmark and Greece for example).

Mike Jones13 December 2024 12:11

When are the qualifying matches?

Tho international breaks which will feature World Cup qualifying are 21-25 March, 6-10 June, 4-9 September, 9-14 October and 13-18 November next year.

No team will play World Cup qualifiers on all of those dates because there is a maximum of eight games. Some teams will start in March, others will start in June and four-team groups will not start until September.

World Cup play-offs will be held between 26-31 March in 2026.

Mike Jones13 December 2024 12:08

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