England to face Serbia in 2026 World Cup qualifying

England were placed in a group with Serbia as the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Europe took place on Friday.

As they prepare to begin life under new coach Thomas Tuchel, England were also drawn alongside Albania, Latvia and Andorra in the five-team Group K.

England, who have qualified for every World Cup since missing the 1994 tournament in the United States, played Serbia in their opening game at Euro 2024, winning 1-0 thanks to a Jude Bellingham goal.

Matches will take place between March and November next year, with the group winners qualifying directly for the World Cup in North America.

The runners-up in each of the 12 qualifying groups will get a second chance via a series of play-offs, with Europe now contributing a total of 16 nations to the expanded 48-team competition.

The exact make-up of the groups is not yet completely clear as it depends on the outcome of the Uefa Nations League quarterfinals next March.

Those ties will see reigning European champions Spain face the Netherlands, while Germany play Italy, Portugal take on Denmark and France meet Croatia.

The groups in which these teams end up depend on whether they win and progress to the Nations League semifinals next June, or are eliminated.

France, who have been to the last two World Cup finals, will be in a group with Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan should they reach the Nations League final four.

However, should they go out of the Nations League to Croatia in the last eight, they will go into World Cup qualifying Group L with the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands and Gibraltar.

Reigning European champions Spain, who also won the last edition of the Nations League, will be in a group with Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria should they defeat the Netherlands in their quarterfinal.

The loser of Spain's tie against the Dutch will be placed in Group G with Poland, Finland, Lithuania and Malta.

There are six groups of five teams who will begin qualifying in March, while the six groups of four teams will only start next September.

🌍🏆 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Qualifying groups for 2026 World Cup. (@FootRankings) pic.twitter.com/LrtCouQvSG

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 13, 2024

Scotland, who are bidding to qualify for a first World Cup since 1998, were drawn in Group C in which they will play Greece, Belarus and the loser of the Nations League quarterfinal between Portugal and Denmark.

Greece and Scotland are also due to play each other in a play-off next March to decide who is in the top tier of the next edition of the Nations League.

Wales were drawn in the same group as Belgium, as was already the case in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, when both teams made it to the finals in Qatar.

Those sides will also come up against North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and minnows Liechtenstein in Group J.

Group A

Winner Nations League quarter-final Germany/Italy

Slovakia

Northern Ireland

Luxembourg

 

Group B

Switzerland

Sweden

Slovenia

Kosovo

 

Group C

Loser Nations League quarter-final Portugal/Denmark

Greece

Scotland

Belarus

 

Group D

Winner Nations League quarter-final France/Croatia

Ukraine

Iceland

Azerbaijan

 

Group E

Winner Nations League quarter-final Spain/Netherlands

Turkey

Georgia

Bulgaria

 

Group F

Winner Nations League quarter-final Portugal/Denmark

Hungary

Ireland

Armenia

 

Group G

Loser Nations League quarter-final Spain/Netherlands

Poland

Finland

Lithuania

Malta

 

Group H

Austria

Romania

Bosnia

Cyprus

San Marino

 

Group I

Loser Nations League quarter-final Germany/Italy

Norway

Israel

Estonia

Moldova

 

Group J

Belgium

Wales

North Macedonia

Kazakhstan

Liechtenstein

 

Group K

England

Serbia

Albania

Latvia

Andorra

 

Group L

Loser Nations League quarter-final France/Croatia

Czech Republic

Montenegro

Faroe Islands

Gibraltar

 

Qualifying matches start in March next year and will be played through until November, and teams will play each other home and away.