England learn FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualifying draw

England men’s senior team will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in their European qualifying group for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Teams were drawn into 12 groups of four or five teams and England found out their fate as the road to the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico begins.

The Three Lions were allocated to Pot 1, alongside Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria, before being drawn into Group K alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.

The draw was carried out with the assistance of former players former England international Rachel Yankey – one of the most decorated players in the women’s game – Ariane Hingst, Fernando Llorente, Gianluca Zambrotta and Robert Pires.

Incoming England men's head coach Thomas Tuchel was also in attendance at the draw in Zurich ahead of starting his new role on 1 January 2025 as the Three Lions found out who they would face in UEFA Preliminary Draw.

The draw

Group A: QF4 winner (Germany/Italy), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: QF3 loser (Portugal/Denmark), Greece, Scotland, Belarus
Group D: QF2 winner (France/Croatia), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: QF1 winner (Spain/Netherlands), Turkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: QF3 winner (Portugal/Denmark), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
Group G: QF1 loser (Spain/Netherlands), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
Group I: QF4 loser (Germany/Italy), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: QF2 loser (France/Croatia), Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar

Nations who are drawn in groups of five and will start their campaign in March, while teams drawn in groups of four start their campaigns in September 2025. All groups conclude in November 2025.

There will be 16 countries from UEFA who will qualify for the 48-team 2026 World Cup – which kicks off on 11 June 2026 – made up of the 12 group winners who qualify automatically, with the four remaining spots to be determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up.

Further information on ballots and sale dates will be communicated to all members in due course. As always, The FA will work to secure as many tickets as possible for all away fixtures.

Fixture dates are as below, with all venues still to be confirmed.

England v Albania
7.45pm GMT, Friday 21 March 2025

England v Latvia
7.45pm GMT, Monday 24 March 2025

Andorra v England
5pm BST, Saturday 7 June 2025

England v Andorra
5pm BST, Saturday 6 September 2025

Serbia v England
7.45pm BST, Tuesday 9 September 2025

Latvia v England
7.45pm BST, Tuesday 14 October 2025

England v Serbia
7.45pm GMT, Thursday 13 November 2025

Albania v England
5pm GMT, Sunday 16 November 2025