England to Face Serbia and Albania in World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Amid Notable Group Draw

Dec 13, 2024, 11:35 AM

The UEFA preliminary draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers took place today at FIFA headquarters in Zurich. England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, have been drawn into Group K alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. The inclusion of both Albania and Serbia in the same group is notable due to historical tensions between the nations. Wales are in Group J with Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. Scotland are placed in Group C, where they will face the loser of the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark, as well as Greece and Belarus. Northern Ireland are in Group A with the winner of the Germany vs Italy playoff, Slovakia, and Luxembourg. The Republic of Ireland are in Group F with Hungary, Armenia, and the winner of the Portugal vs Denmark playoff. France's group will be determined by their Nations League playoff against Croatia; a win would place them in a group with Ukraine, Iceland, and Azerbaijan, while a loss would see them face Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, and Gibraltar. The Nations League playoffs have influenced the group compositions, adding complexity to the draw.