The group stage of the Nations League is coming to an finish, with consideration quickly turning to the World Cup Qualifiers beginning subsequent March.
Following England’s 5-0 win over Republic of Eire, new Three Lions supervisor Thomas Tuchel has prevented a promotion play-off as his first project, that means he’ll embark on a contemporary Qualifying marketing campaign for the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the US in 2026.
A complete of 16 UEFA nations will compete on the match – a rise of three from the earlier version in 2022. The European Qualifiers are scheduled to start in March 2025 and finish with the play-offs exactly a 12 months later.
When is the draw for the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers?
Groups are to be drawn into 12 teams of 4 or 5 groups in Zurich on Friday December 13.
Groups will play one another house and away. Groups drawn in teams of 5 will begin Qualifying in March and groups drawn in teams of 4 begin their campaigns in September. All teams conclude in November 2025.
UEFA will subject the fixture record with the dates and kick-off occasions of all 192 group-stage matches as quickly as attainable after the conclusion of the draw.
Will England be seeded within the draw?
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All eight Nations League quarter-finalists are in Pot 1 of the World Cup draw, which will likely be accomplished by the 4 nations with the perfect FIFA world rating.
England and Belgium are assured to take Pot 1 slots as they’re ranked fourth and sixth on the planet respectively. Because it stands, Switzerland and Austria will take the opposite two Pot 1 locations.
The pots won’t be identified in full till in spite of everything Nations League group video games have been performed. Locations are allotted by FIFA world rating, so outcomes this month might play an enormous half.
What occurs to groups concerned within the Nations League play-offs?
Scotland have confirmed their third-place end in Nations League Group A1 with victory in Poland.
They may now play a two-legged play-off in March in opposition to a League B runner-up to find out who performs within the Nations League Group A within the subsequent match. Two confirmed potential opponents are Greece and Austria, whereas the opposite two will likely be determined after Tuesday’s video games. The draw for that’s on Friday. Scotland will likely be at Hampden Park for the second leg.
Scotland are additionally set to be in Pot 3 for the World Cup Qualifiers, beginning subsequent summer season. That’s until Czech Republic lose to Georgia or Slovakia lose to Estonia on Tuesday – during which case, they may rise into Pot 2.
As talked about, incoming England boss Tuchel has prevented a promotion play-off following Sunday’s 5-0 win over Republic of Eire, a consequence that assured promotion again to League A of the Nations League.
Wales, in the meantime, should beat Iceland at house on Tuesday and hope Turkey drop factors in Montenegro to win Group B3 and, like England, earn promotion to League A, in any other case they are going to be concerned within the play-offs – both for promotion or relegation – as they might not have the ability to end high.
Northern Eire secured high spot of their group in League C after gaining a draw away at already-relegated Luxembourg.
These concerned within the March play-offs will then begin their World Cup Qualifying campaigns in both June or September, relying on whether or not they’re drawn in a 5 or four-team group.
So will we all know all of the teams on December 13?
No. Because of the Nations League play-offs in March, it means solely 4 teams will likely be full as of December 13.
Eight of the 12 World Cup teams won’t know their full line-up till after that time.
4 of the teams with 4 groups will get a ‘winner of play-off tie’ whereas one other 4 will embody a ‘loser of play-off tie’.
What number of European groups qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
As talked about, a complete of 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The 12 group winners qualify instantly, with the 4 remaining berths decided by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up.
How do play-offs for the 2026 World Cup work?
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The 12 group runners-up will take part within the play-offs, together with the 4 best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 Nations League that didn’t end their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.
The 16 nations that enter the play-offs will likely be drawn into 4 play-off paths, with 4 groups in every. Play-off video games will likely be performed over single-leg semi-finals adopted by single-leg finals inside the similar worldwide window of March 2026.
So the Nations League nonetheless issues?
Very a lot so. With regards to the draw for World Cup qualification, every nationwide group concerned may also be positioned in a ranked desk, primarily based on the efficiency within the 2024/25 Nations League.
Primarily, the 4 highest-ranked groups who don’t then safe an automated place on the 2026 World Cup will likely be granted a play-off security internet.
World Cup 2026 European qualifiers: Key dates
- Group-stage draw: December 13 2024
- Group-stage match dates: March to November 2025
- Play-off match dates: March 26-31 2026
- Ultimate match dates: June 11 to July 19 2026
