World Cup 2026: England learn qualifying opponents - sports news foot

The World Cup 2026 qualifying draw has taken place with Thomas Tuchel’s England up against Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in their group.

Tuchel, the former Chelsea manager, officially takes over as head coach on January 1 and will take heart from the fact England have never lost to any of the teams they will face on the road to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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 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.”

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.

Steve Clarke’s men also face Greece in a Nations League promotion-relegation play-off in March.

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

The draw in full

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

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

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

Group D: Winner of France v Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Winner of Spain v Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.

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

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

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.

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

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

Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.

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

Qualifiers will be played between March and November 2025.