THOMAS TUCHEL now knows EXACTLY who England will be facing during qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Tuchel will officially begin his role as the new head of the England on January 1, but was in attendance to see his side drawn into Group K.
The draw took place at Fifa HQ in Zurich, Switzerland, with nations placed into 12 groups of four and five teams.
As they were drawn into a group of five teams, England will start their campaign in March 2025 – those drawn in a group of four start in September 2025.
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Here’s the World Cup qualifying draw in full as England face the likes of Serbia in Group K:
England v Andorra
World ranking: 171
And the final team in Group K is Andorra.
And that is completely understandable as their nation is made up of just over 80,000 people.
England HAVE played the independent principality before and you might not be surprised to hear that it hasn’t gone too well for Andorra.
England have won all SIX previous meetings with an aggregate score of 25-0…
England vs Latvia
World ranking: 140
Latvia are viewed by Fifa as the 140th-best national team in the world.
This is only eight places higher than their lowest-ever ranking of 148 in September 2017.
England have NEVER played Latvia, so they will have the chance to add another feather to their well-stocked cap.
England v Albania
World ranking: 65
Albania finished bottom of Group B at Euro 2024 but had, by far, the hardest group alongside winners Spain, Italy and Croatia.
And they were not heavily beaten in any of those three matches, losing by the odd goal against Spain and Italy either side of snatching a point against Croatia.
They will be no pushover in 2026 World Cup qualifying.
That said, England have won all six previous meetings against Albania with an aggregate score of 19-1.
England’s opponents analysed: Serbia
World ranking: 32
Serbia are England’s greatest competitor for the top spot in Group K having been drawn from Pot 2.
They have a squad packed with current and former Premier League players and it is a team that England know well having beaten them 1-0 at Euro 2024 earlier this year.
They put up a stern fight in that game, though, with Jude Bellingham’s 13th-minute header being the only goal of the game.
England’s World Cup qualifying draw in full
The story of the World Cup qualifying draw?
Serbia and Albania have been drawn together into England’s Group K.
But the two nations have controversial history behind them,.
Uefa slapped Albanian forward Mirlind Daku with a two-game ban for anti-Serbian chants at Euro 2024.
Uefa also fined Serbia for trying to burn an Albanian flag.
No geopolitical restrictions were put in place before the draw for those two nations.
But for political reasons, Ukraine and Belarus cannot be in the same group, and neither can Gibraltar and Spain.
Kosovo must be kept apart from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
But Scotland given grievance period to prepare
As the Scots have been drawn in to a group of four, they won’t begin qualifying matches until September.
That’s because Portugal play Denmark the Nations League quarter-finals in March, with the loser being placed into Group C.
The winner goes into Group F to face Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.
The other confirmed teams in Scotland’s group are Greece and Belarus.
When will England play their first qualifying game?
England’s first games during this campaign will come over the spring international break on March 21-25.
Although the draw is pleasing, Tuchel won’t be eased into his game as England boss with a friendly.
No. His first game will count. It’s a must win.
The fixture list hasn’t been confirmed yet. But it will be one of Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.
Tuchel learns Three Lions path to World Cup 2026
England have been a favourable draw as they bid to confirm a place at the next World Cup.
Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra stand between England and qualification for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The groups in full…
The either/ors in the list below are due to the Nations League quarter-finals.
Group A: Winner of Germany/Italy, Slovakia, NORTHERN IRELAND,Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Loser of Portugal/Denmark, Greece, SCOTLAND,Belarus
Group D: Winner of France/Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: Winner of Spain/Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: Winner of Portugal/Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
Group G: Loser of Spain/Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
Group I: Loser of Germany/Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
Group J: Belgium, WALES, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Group K: ENGLAND, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: Loser of France/Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
ENGLAND’S GROUP K IS COMPLETE
Andorra have a travel restriction with Kazakhstan so they join England, Serbia, Albania and Latvia in Group K.
Happy, England fans?
Pot 5 results…
Moldova join Group I
Malta join Group G
San Marino join Group H
Andorra join England in Group K
Gibraltar join in Group L
Liechtenstein join Wales, Belgium, North Macedonia and Kazakhstan in Group J.
Smallest Pot 5 left to go…
- Moldova
- Malta
- Andorra
- Gibraltar
- Liechtenstein
- San Marino
England are joined by Latvia
Reminder, if I didn’t say so before, England are a group of five.
So their qualifying matches begin in March or June.
Group K: ENGLAND, Serbia, Albania, Latvia…
Wales face trip to Asian border as Kazakhstan drawn into Group J
Group J: Belgium, WALES, North Macedonia
Bulgaria in Group E
Group E: Winner of Spain/Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia
Estonia join Group I (group of five)
Group I: Loser of Germany/Italy, Norway, Israel
Cyprus join Group H
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Lithuania join Group G (five teams)
Group G: Loser of Spain/Netherlands, Poland, Finland
Azerbaijan is the final name drawn into Group D
Group D: Winner of France/Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland
Belarus complete Group C
Group C: Loser of Portugal/Denmark, Greece, SCOTLAND
Kosovo complete Group B
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia
Luxembourg complete Group A
Group A: Winner of Germany/Italy, Slovakia, NORTHERN IRELAND
Names drawn from Pot 4
Some restrictions here now… travel and geopolitical ones.
Here are the teams… which one to you fancy for England?
Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Lithuania
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
