The draw for the UEFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign has been revealed, with England manager Thomas Tuchel set to face his first challenge in leading the Three Lions to the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Tuchel, who will officially take over in January, finds his team placed in a competitive group alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. As one of the top-seeded teams due to their high world ranking, England will aim to secure direct qualification for the World Cup.
The qualifying format consists of 12 groups in total. Six of these groups, including England's, will contain five teams, and the matches will begin in March 2024. The remaining six groups will feature four teams, with their campaigns commencing in September. The 12 group winners will automatically advance to the World Cup, while the runners-up will enter a playoff round. Additionally, four teams will be chosen through their performance in the UEFA Nations League, narrowing the pool of qualifying teams down to 16.
Tuchel expressed his pride in being appointed as England’s manager, describing it as a huge privilege to represent the country. He emphasized his excitement to work with the talented group of players and his commitment to making England successful. Tuchel also praised the support of the Football Association, particularly Mark Bullingham and John McDermott, for their trust in him.
While England’s group has been finalized, several other groups remain dependent on the results of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. For instance, the winner of the Germany vs Italy match will be placed in a group with Northern Ireland. Wales will face Belgium in a repeat of their 2022 World Cup qualifying draw, while Scotland will compete against the loser of the Portugal vs Denmark Nations League play-off.
In the broader global context, other confederations have already started their qualifying campaigns. In South America, the 10 teams have completed 12 of their 18 qualifiers, though no team has yet guaranteed a spot in the World Cup. In the CONCACAF region, the three host nations have already secured their spots, with 30 other teams competing for the remaining spots. In Asia, 46 teams began the qualification process, with 18 still in contention. Similarly, Africa has begun its group stage, with nine group winners moving directly to the World Cup.
Tuchel’s first World Cup qualifying campaign promises to be a challenging and exciting journey as he looks to guide England to another major international tournament.
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