World Cup qualifying draw – key questions answered

New head coach Thomas Tuchel will learn on Friday which teams stand between England and qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Here the PA news agency sets out what to expect.

How will qualifying work?

The 54 eligible UEFA nations will be split into six groups of four teams, and six groups of five teams. Russia remain suspended.

Sixteen European countries in total will qualify for the first 48-team finals in 2026 – the 12 qualifying group winners automatically, and then four further teams via play-offs to be played in March 2026.

Sixteen countries will go into those play-offs – the 12 qualifying group runners-up plus the four best-ranked group winners from the Nations League who did not either win their group or finish runner-up in main qualifying.

These 16 teams will be drawn into four-team ‘paths’ with the winner of each securing a ticket to the tournament.

How will the draw unfold?

The qualification draw is complicated by the final stages of the Nations League. The four teams in Pot One who reach June’s Nations League finals will each need to be in a four-team World Cup qualifying group, because they cannot start playing regular qualifiers until September.

Teams involved in the two-leg Nations League promotion and relegation play-offs will also be unable to play World Cup qualifiers in March, but could still be drawn in a five-team group and play their eight qualifiers in the June, September, October and November international breaks.

Who can England face?

Tuchel’s team are in pot one with the top seeds, so will avoid the likes of European champions Spain, 2022 World Cup finalists France, plus Germany and Italy.

There are nevertheless some difficult opponents lying in wait. Pot two contains Greece, who recently beat England at Wembley, while Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, Turkey and Wales are also in the second pot.

There is the possibility of England facing Wales plus one of Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland from pot three.

Aren’t Scotland and the Republic involved in Nations League play-offs?

Correct, which means they could end up in five-team groups but will not be able to play their first World Cup qualifiers until June.

Scotland will hope to hold on to their position in Nations League A by beating Greece over two legs in March, while the Republic fight to stay in League B against Bulgaria.

What time is the draw?

The draw is taking place in Zurich and starts at 11am UK time on Friday. It will be streamed live on fifa.com.