ENGLAND will have to navigate arguably the toughest World Cup qualification route in more than two decades to book their place at Qatar 2022.
Sun Sport revealed last month how Uefa planned to decide the 13 European qualifiers for the final 32-team tournament.
England are facing their toughest World Cup qualification group in two decadesCredit: AFP or licensors
And Euro chiefs have now confirmed that Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions will face a four-day all or nothing ordeal if they do not top their initial group.
Europe’s 55 national teams will be split into 10 groups, five containing five teams and the rest six.
Unlike Euro 2020 qualification, where the top two teams all went through, only the 10 group winners are guaranteed a Finals slot.
The 10 runners-up will then join the two best teams from the next edition of the Nations League who have not made it through.
Those 12 sides will be split into three groups of four, drawn into one-legged semi-finals and a one-off final, to fill the final three slots.
Southgate will want to be in one of the five-team groups when qualifying begins in March 2021.
For that to happen, though, England must win their Nations League group – the draw will be held in Amsterdam next March – or be the best of the four group runners up.
In contrast, 23 qualifying slots in addition to hosts Germany will be available for Euro 24, while Europe will have 16 out of the 48 places available when the World Cup is expanded to 48 teams from 2026.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
