World Cup 2026 qualifying draw LIVE: New England boss Thomas Tuchel to learn opponents for next campaign – updates

By Katherine Walsh

When are the World Cup qualifying games?

The games will be held over 10 matchdays during five international breaks.

Those international breaks are 21-25 March, 6-10 June, 4-9 September, 9-14 October and 13-18 November.

However no team will play World Cup qualifiers on all of those dates because there is a maximum of eight games.

Groups of five will start in March, others will start in June and four-team groups will not start until September.

The play-offs will be held between 26-31 March 2026.

Check out SunSport's simulated draw ahead of the real thing in 30 minutes time...

ENG IT TO WIN IT

World Cup 2026 qualifying draw simulated with England facing familiar foe

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By Katherine Walsh

Who can England be grouped with in the World Cup qualifying draw?

England, thanks to their ranking and recent performances in major tournaments, have the advantage of being in Pot 1.

As a top seed, Thomas Tuchel’s side will avoid heavyweights like Spain, France, Germany, Italy and others.

However, the Three Lions could still find themselves in a challenging group, with Greece, Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, Turkey and Wales all in Pot 2.

There’s also the chance of some Home Nation derbies, with Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland all in Pot 3.

In terms of the worse-case scenario, this is who England could face in a nightmare group…

ENG IT TO WIN IT

England's path to World Cup 2026 becomes clear with qualifying pots made

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By Katherine Walsh

And what about the play-offs?

The 12 teams that finish second in their qualifying groups will be joined by the four highest-ranked group winners in the 2024-25 Nations League that didn't finish first or second in their qualifying groups.

The 16 nations will be separated into four play-off paths of four teams each, with single-legged semifinals and finals deciding the final four joining the 12 group winners as Uefa's 16 representatives at the World Cup.

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By Katherine Walsh

How does World Cup qualifying work?

The format for European qualifying has changed, with more groups – and smaller ones than before.

There will be 12 World Cup qualifying groups.

Six will have four teams (A-F) and six will have five teams (G-L).

Teams will play each other home and away as usual.

The top team from each group qualifies automatically for the World Cup, with the runners-up going into the play-offs with four Nations League teams.

Four of the 16 play-off teams will qualify for the tournament.

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By Katherine Walsh

What are the World Cup European Qualifying pots?

Pot 1

Spain - (Nations League Quarter-finalist)
Germany - (Nations League Quarter-finalist)
Portugal - (Nations League Quarter-finalist)
France - (Nations League Quarter-finalist)
Italy - (Nations League Quarter-finalist)
Netherlands - (Nations League Quarter-finalist)
Denmark - (Nations League Quarter-finalist)
Croatia - (Nations League Quarter-finalist)
England
Belgium - (Nations League play-offs)
Switzerland
Austria - (Nations League play-offs)

Pot 2

Ukraine - (Nations League play-offs)
Sweden - (Nations League play-offs)
Turkey - (Nations League play-offs)
Wales
Hungary - (Nations League play-offs)
Serbia - (Nations League play-offs)
Poland
Greece - (Nations League play-offs)
Romania - (Nations League play-offs)
Slovakia - (Nations League play-offs)
Czech Republic
Norway

Pot 3

Scotland - (Nations League play-offs)
Slovenia - (Nations League play-offs)
Republic of Ireland - (Nations League play-offs)
Albania
North Macedonia
Georgia - (Nations League play-offs)
Finland
Iceland - (Nations League play-offs)
Northern Ireland
Montenegro
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Israel

Pot 4

Bulgaria - (Nations League play-offs)
Luxembourg - (Nations League play-offs)
Kosovo - (Nations League play-offs)
Belarus
Armenia - (Nations League play-offs)
Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan
Estonia
Cyprus
Faroe Islands
Latvia - (Nations League play-offs)
Lithuania

Pot 5

Moldova
Malta - (Nations League play-offs)
Andorra
Gibraltar - (Nations League play-offs)
Liechtenstein
San Marino

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By Katherine Walsh

Good morning!

Welcome to SunSport's live coverage of the World Cup 2026 qualifying draw.

Stay with us throughout the morning as we bring you everything you need to know ahead of the European draw in Zurich.

The draw will NOT be broadcast in the UK, but we've got you covered here.

The action should be kicking off at around 11am GMT.

In the meantime, we'll explain how the draw works with a new qualifying format to suit the 48-team expansion.

The draw will take place at Fifa'sÂ HQ in Zurich, Switzerland

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