World Cup 2026: England find out their qualifying opponents

The draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers has taken place, with Thomas Tuchel’s England facing Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in their group.

Tuchel, the former Chelsea manager, officially takes over as head coach on January 1 and will be encouraged by the fact that England have never lost to any of the teams they will face on their way to the United States, Canada and Mexico tournaments.

TT. 📸 pic.twitter.com/jCNYdwsING

— England (@England) December 13, 2024

Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 Live: “They are always very talented individual players, a very emotional group, a very emotional crowd. So I can always surprise.

“We have to take this very seriously. This is the first meeting with Latvia, so it is a new challenge for all of us.

“Even then we are clear favorites, of course, against Andorra, but the qualifications are crucial now. Qualification is the main priority. We have to be serious. We have to be determined and we have to show what we are ready for in this five.”

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

Steve Clarke’s men also face Greece in the Nations League promotion and relegation play-offs in March.

Wales have been drawn against Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein, while Northern Ireland will face either Germany or Italy.

Full draw

Group A: winner of Germany against Italy, Slovakia, Northern IrelandLuxembourg.

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

Group C: Loser of Portugal vs. Denmark, Greece, ScotlandBelarus.

Group D: winner of France against Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Winner of Spain vs Netherlands, Turkey, 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 and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.

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

Group J: Belgium, WalesNorth Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group K: EnglandSerbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.

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

The qualifiers will be played between March and November 2025.