England were placed in a group with Serbia as the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Europe took place on Friday.

As they prepare to begin life under new coach Thomas Tuchel, England were also drawn alongside Albania, Latvia and Andorra in the five-team Group K.

England, who have qualified for every World Cup since missing the 1994 tournament in the United States, played Serbia in their opening game at Euro 2024, winning 1-0 thanks to a Jude Bellingham goal.

Matches will take place between March and November of 2025, with the group winners qualifying directly for the World Cup in North America the following year; the United States, Canada, and Mexico are joint hosts.

The runners-up in each of the 12 qualifying groups will get a second chance via a series of playoffs, with Europe now contributing a total of 16 nations to the expanded 48-team competition.

The exact make-up of the groups is not yet completely clear as it depends on the outcome of the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals next March.

Those ties will see reigning European champions Spain face the Netherlands, while Germany play Italy, Portugal take on Denmark, and France meet Croatia.

The groups in which these teams end up depend on whether they win and progress to the Nations League semifinals next June, or are eliminated.

France, who have been to the last two World Cup finals, will be in a group with Ukraine, Iceland, and Azerbaijan should they reach the Nations League final four.

However, should they go out of the Nations League to Croatia in the last eight, they will go into World Cup qualifying Group L with the Czech Republic, Montenegro, the Faroe Islands, and Gibraltar.

Reigning European champions Spain, who also won the last edition of the Nations League, will be in a group with Turkey, Georgia, and Bulgaria should they defeat the Netherlands in their quarterfinal. The loser of Spain’s tie against the Dutch will be placed in Group G with Poland, Finland, Lithuania, and Malta.

There are six groups of five teams who will begin qualifying in March, while the six groups of four teams will only start next September.

The 2026 World Cup, which will feature 104 total games, begins June 11, 2026. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium on July 19 of that year.

UEFA World Cup qualifying groups

Group A: Winner of Germany vs. Italy (Nations League), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo

Group C: Loser of Portugal vs. Denmark (Nations League), Greece, Scotland, Belarus

Group D: Winner of France vs. Croatia (Nations League), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan

Group E: Winner of Spain vs. Netherlands (Nations League), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria

Group F: Winner of Portugal vs. Denmark (Nations League), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia

Group G: Loser of Spain vs. Netherlands (Nations League), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino

Group I: Loser of Germany vs. Italy (Nations League), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova

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

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

Group L: Loser of France vs. Croatia (Nations League), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar