Home nations' routes to 2026 World Cup unveiled.© (@KuqeZiFootball)
After Friday’s qualifying draw in Zurich, the home nations now know their paths to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland will face a range of opponents as they aim for a place in the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Under new head coach Thomas Tuchel, England will compete against Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. Tuchel emphasized the importance of staying focused, saying, “Qualification is key. We have to earn our top spot.” England will kick off their campaign on 21 March with a home game against Albania at Wembley.
Also Read: Dementia Risk in Footballers Linked to Head Injuries
Wales are drawn into a group featuring familiar rivals Belgium, alongside North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. Head coach Craig Bellamy, optimistic about Wales’ chances, stated, “It’s a good group. We’ll do our homework and aim to finish top.” Wales begin their qualifiers on 22 March, hosting Kazakhstan.
Scotland and Northern Ireland Face Tough Paths
Scotland’s group includes Greece, Belarus, and the Portugal vs. Denmark Nations League quarter-final loser. However, Steve Clarke’s team will not start their World Cup qualifiers until September, as Scotland will face Greece in a two-legged Nations League promotion-relegation play-off in March. Given the ongoing regional conflict, uncertainty remains over where Scotland’s away game against Belarus will take place.
Northern Ireland has been drawn alongside Slovakia, Luxembourg, and the Germany vs. Italy Nations League match winner. Manager Michael O’Neill welcomed the challenge, commenting, “We don’t have anything to lose in that situation, playing one of the powerhouses of football.” Northern Ireland’s qualifiers start on 4 September with an away match in Luxembourg.
How Qualification Works
The qualifiers will take over five international breaks from March to November 2025. Twelve group winners will qualify automatically for the World Cup, while runners-up will enter a play-off system alongside four Nations League teams. The play-offs will determine Europe’s remaining representatives for the expanded 48-team tournament.
Also Read: Premier League Transfer Updates: Vlahovic, Salah & More
The 2026 World Cup begins on 11 June in Mexico City and concludes with the final on 19 July in New Jersey. The tournament will feature 12 four-team groups, followed by a newly introduced last-32 knockout round, promising a dynamic and competitive format across 39 days of football action.
