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Check out 2026 World Cup qualifying opponents
Check out 2026 World Cup qualifying opponents
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 2 mins read
The qualifying draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place on Friday in Zurich, revealing the opponents for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
England, under new manager Thomas Tuchel, will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in Group K.
Wales are set to compete against familiar rivals Belgium, alongside North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein in Group J.
Scotland will go up against Greece, Belarus, and the loser of the Portugal v Denmark Nations League quarter-final in Group C.
Northern Ireland are grouped with Slovakia, Luxembourg, and the winner of the Germany v Italy Nations League clash in Group A.
- FIFA
The qualifiers will be held over five international breaks between March and November 2025. The top team from each of the 12 groups will qualify automatically for the tournament, while second-placed teams will enter the play-offs.
Scotland and Northern Ireland, drawn in four-team groups, will start their qualifying campaigns in September 2025, as they are involved in Nations League play-offs in March.
The full 2026 World Cup qualifying draw
(Some groups are incomplete, pending the Nations League quarter-finals in March)
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser), Greece, Scotland, Belarus.Group D: France/Croatia (winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.Group I: Germany/Italy (loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.Group L: France/Croatia (loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.
How qualifying works
The 12 group winners will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Second-placed teams will join four Nations League teams in the play-offs, where 16 teams will compete for the remaining European spots in one-legged semi-finals and finals.
When are the games?
The qualifying matches will take place across five international windows:
21-25 March 2025
6-10 June 2025
4-9 September 2025
9-14 October 2025
13-18 November 2025
Four-team groups, including those involving Scotland and Northern Ireland, will start in September 2025. Nations League quarter-final winners will also join the qualifiers in September. The play-offs will occur between 26-31 March 2026.
When and where is the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will begin on 11 June 2026 in Mexico City and conclude on 19 July 2026 in New Jersey. The expanded 48-team format will feature 12 groups of four teams and a last-32 knockout stage for the first time.
