The draw for the European qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has placed England in a group with Serbia, as the teams will meet again in the group stage. The draw, which took place in Zurich on Friday, also saw Albania drawn into the same group, setting the stage for a politically charged encounter between the Balkan nations.
However, many teams are still awaiting confirmation of their group opponents, as eight groups remain incomplete. These will be finalized following the Nations League quarterfinals in March 2025, which will determine the remaining teams.
Spain will face the Netherlands in their Nations League quarterfinal, and the winner will join Turkey, Georgia, and Bulgaria in Group E. The losing team will move to Group G alongside Poland, Finland, Lithuania, and Malta.
2022 World Cup runners-up France are also involved in a Nations League quarterfinal, where they will meet Croatia. If France wins, they will join Ukraine, Iceland, and Azerbaijan in Group D.
As one of only four top-seeded countries already aware of their group placement, England, under new manager Thomas Tuchel, will compete in Group K alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra.
England last faced Serbia in the opening match of the 2024 European Championship, winning 1-0 before progressing to the final, where they were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Spain. The group features a potential flashpoint, with Serbia and Albania set to play each other twice, fueled by ongoing political tensions in the Balkans.
For political reasons, Ukraine and Belarus were kept apart, as were Gibraltar and Spain. Additionally, Kosovo was not drawn in the same group as Serbia or Bosnia. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, a lingering issue from the Balkan wars of the 1990s.
Controversy has often surrounded matches involving these nations. During Serbia’s Euro match against England, a Kosovar journalist made an Albanian nationalist gesture, leading to a UEFA sanction. Similarly, incidents of political displays and fan chants in support of Kosovo have resulted in fines for both Serbia and Albania in previous tournaments.
The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first tournament with 48 teams, up from 32. Europe will have 16 automatic spots, with the 12 group winners qualifying directly, while the runners-up will enter the playoffs, alongside the four highest-ranked group winners from the UEFA Nations League.
The full European qualifier groups are as follows:
Group A: Germany/Italy (Nations League quarterfinal winner), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (Nations League quarterfinal loser), Greece, Scotland, Belarus
Group D: France/Croatia (Nations League quarterfinal winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (Nations League quarterfinal winner), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (Nations League quarterfinal loser), Hungary, Ireland, Armenia
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (Nations League quarterfinal loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia, Cyprus, San Marino
Group I: Germany/Italy (Nations League quarterfinal loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: France/Croatia (Nations League quarterfinal loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
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