the complete draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers

48 teams, 3 host countries, 104 matches. The 2026 World Cup will be the first of a new era, with ever more superlatives. Contested in Mexico, Canada and the United States, it will pit 12 groups of 4 teams against each other, with a direct elimination phase which will begin with the round of 16. But before accessing it, you will already have to qualify for the said competition. Several confederations have already started this obstacle course, such as in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America.

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And today it is Europe’s turn to launch the machine, with the draw of the 12 groups, which will bring together 54 selections. UEFA will have a total of 16 qualified selections (compared to 13 in previous editions), a record. Seeded, the French team knew that it would avoid the best European selections. Despite everything, she could fear other adversaries. But the draw was rather lenient, according to the two possible scenarios.

A lenient draw

Indeed, France does not yet know its final group, since it will depend on the result of its quarter-final in the Nations League against Croatia. If it wins, it will then be in Group D for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan. If it were to lose against Croatia, it would fall into Group F, with 5 teams, with the Czech Republic, Montenegro, the Faroe Islands and Gibraltar.

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An almost easier draw therefore. These meetings will take place in any case from June 2025 until November, therefore in a very short time. Remember that in the event of failure in the qualifying group, France will, whatever happens, have a place in the play-offs thanks to its result in the Nations League. The Blues are now settled.

The complete draw

Group A
Winner Germany-Italy
Slovakia
Northern Ireland
Luxembourg

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Group B
Suisse
Suede
Slovenia
Kosovo

Group C
Loser Portugal-Denmark
Greece
Scotland
Belarus

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Group D
Winner France-Croatia
Ukraine
Iceland
Azerbaijan

Group E
Winner Spain-Netherlands
Türkiye
Georgia
Bulgaria

Group F
Portugal-Denmark winner
Hungary
Republic of Ireland
Armenia

Group G
Loser Spain-Netherlands
Poland
Finland
Lithuania
Painted

Group H
Austria
Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Chypre
San Marino

Groupe I
Loser Germany-Italy
Norway
Israel
Estonia
Moldova

Group J
Belgium
Wales
North Macedonia
Kazakhstan
Liechtenstein

Group K
England
Serbia
Albania
Latvia
Andorra

Group L
Loser France-Croatia
Czech Republic
Montenegro
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar