UEFA preliminary draw: England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and others learn pathway to FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification

Europe's national teams learned their pathways towards qualifying for UEFA's 16 spots for the 2026 World Cup

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WHAT HAPPENED?
UEFA's 54 teams were drawn into 12 groups Friday with the aim of reaching the North America-hosted FIFA World Cup 2026.
Several teams are still awaiting to be placed as a Pot 1 team in the respective group, with seeding to be determined by March’s UEFA Nations League (UNL) quarterfinals - including Italy, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, France, Croatia, Netherlands and Spain.
A record 16 teams from UEFA (up from 13) are able to qualify due to FIFA's expanded format for the 2026 tournament.

FIFA
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The groups consist of four or five teams each, with winners qualifying directly for the World Cup. The remaining four spots will be decided in March 2026 via a 16-team UEFA playoff. The playoff field will include the 12 group-stage runners-up and four top-ranked UNL group winners not qualified via group stage or playoff runner-up slots.
FIFA World Cup 26™: UEFA Preliminary Draw results
Group A
Winner Italy - Germany (UNL QF4)
Slovakia
Northern Ireland
Luxembourg
Group B
Switzerland
Sweden
Slovenia
Kosovo
Group C
Defeated team Denmark - Portugal (UNL QF3)
Greece
Scotland
Belarus
Group D
Winner Croatia - France (UNL QF2)
Ukraine
Iceland
Azerbaijan
Group E
Winner Netherlands - Spain (UNL QF1)
Türkiye
Georgia
Bulgaria
Group F
Winner Denmark - Portugal (UNL QF3)
Hungary
Republic of Ireland
Armenia
Group G
Defeated team Netherlands - Spain (UNL QF1)
Poland
Finland
Lithuania
Malta
Group H
Austria
Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cyprus
San Marino
Group I
Defeated team Italy - Germany (UNL QF4)
Norway
Israel
Estonia
Moldova
Group J
Belgium
Wales
North Macedonia
Kazakhstan
Liechtenstein
Group K
England
Serbia
Albania
Latvia
Andorra
Group L
Defeated team Croatia - France (UNL QF2)
Czechia
Montenegro
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
AFP
DID YOU KNOW?
The March playoff match between Croatia and France, which will determine the fates of Group D and L, is a rematch of the 2018 World Cup Final -- which France won 4-2.

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WHAT HAPPENED?