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World Cup qualifying draw in full: England learn opponents as Thomas Tuchel era begins

alex young
·2 min read
In charge: Thomas Tuchel (AP)
In charge: Thomas Tuchel (AP)

England will take on Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in 2026 World Cup qualifying as the Thomas Tuchel era begins.

The Three Lions have been drawn into a five-team group, meaning their qualification period begins in March or June rather than September.

That means there may well not be a bedding-in period for incoming new manager Tuchel, whose first games in charge could be World Cup qualifiers.

Tuchel officially takes over as head coach on January 1 and will be pleased with his first opponents in the role as the road to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico begins.

Elsewhere, Scotland are in a four-team group against the losers of the Nations League quarter-final tie between Portugal and Denmark, Greece and Belarus. Wales face a daunting double-header against Belgium but otherwise face North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein.

Republic of Ireland will face with winner between Portugal and Denmark, along with Hungary and Armenia while Northern Ireland take on the winner between Germany and Italy, and Slovakia and Luxembourg.

World Cup qualifying draw in full

Group A

  • Winner of Germany/Italy

  • Slovakia

  • Northern Ireland

  • Luxembourg

Group B

  • Switzerland

  • Sweden

  • Slovenia

  • Kosovo

Group C

  • Loser of Portugal/Denmark

  • Greece

  • Scotland

  • Belarus

Group D

  • Winner of France/Croatia

  • Ukraine

  • Iceland

  • Azerbaijan

Group E

  • Winner of Spain/Netherlands

  • Turkey

  • Georgia

  • Bulgaria

Group F

  • Winner of Portugal/Denmark

  • Hungary

  • Republic of Ireland

  • Armenia

Group G

  • Loser of Spain/Netherlands

  • Poland

  • Finland

  • Lithuania

  • Malta

Group H

  • Austria

  • Romania

  • Bosnia-Herzegovina

  • Cyprus

  • San Marino

Group I

  • Loser of Germany/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/Croatia

  • Czech Republic

  • Montenegro

  • Faroe Islands

  • Gibraltar

Nations in five-team groups will begin their qualifiers in March or June, with four-team groups underway from September.