World Cup group qualifying draw – Newcastle United stars discover opponents on Friday | OneFootball

The World Cup group qualifying draw has been made for the 2026 finals.

This is for European nations hoping to make the finals that are to be held in Mexico, Canada and the USA.

A number of Newcastle United stars no doubt taking a keen interest, including the likes of Anthony Gordon, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento with England.

It all feels very familiar, with England gifted what looks an easy route, up against Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in Group K.

The games are to be played across five international periods between March and November 2025 (21-25 March, 6-10 June, 4-9 September, 9-14 October and 13-18 November).

The top team from each group qualifies automatically for the 2026 World Cup finals, with the runners-up going into the play-offs with four Nations League teams.

Teams who win the Nations League quarter-finals will not be in World Cup qualifying action until September. The play-offs will be on 26-31 March 2026.

The full (for European nations) World Cup group qualifying draw – 13 December 2024:

Some of the groups will not be finalised until after the Nations League quarter-finals in March

Group A: Germany/Italy (winner), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser), Greece, Scotland, Belarus.

Group D: France/Croatia (winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.

Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.

Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.

Group I: Germany/Italy (loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.

Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.

Group L: France/Croatia (loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.

The World Cup finals will start on 11 June 2026 in Mexico City.

The final will be on 19 July 2026 in New Jersey.

The expanded 48 nations tournament will last a record 39 days and will feature 12 four team groups and a last 32 knockout round for the first time.