2026 World Cup European qualifiers: Groups drawn, Italy’s fate hangs in the balance
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers took place on Friday at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. The post 2026 World Cup European qualifiers: Groups drawn, Italy’s fate hangs in the balance appeared first on FootItalia.com.
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers took place on Friday at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. The ceremony, which began at 12:00 local time, determined the groups for the upcoming qualification campaign.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened the proceedings, stating, “The 2026 World Cup will be the most incredible of all. With 48 participating teams, including 16 from Europe, it promises to be a spectacular event. It’s worth noting that European teams have won 12 out of the 22 World Cups held so far.”
The draw resulted in 12 groups, with six groups containing five teams and six groups containing four teams. The unique aspect of this qualification process is that some group placements are yet to be finalized, as they depend on the results of the upcoming UEFA Nations League knockout phase.
Italy’s situation is particularly intriguing. The Azzurri’s group placement will be determined by their performance in the Nations League quarter-final against Germany in March 2025. If Italy wins this match, they will be placed in Group A alongside Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg. However, if they lose to Germany, they will find themselves in Group I, facing Norway, Israel, Estonia, and Moldova.
Other notable groups include:
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Loser of Portugal vs Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus
Group D: Winner of France vs Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: Winner of Spain vs Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: Winner of Portugal vs Denmark, Hungary, Finland, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
Group G: Loser of Spain vs Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: Loser of France vs Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
The qualification process will see the group winners directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The remaining four European spots will be determined through playoffs involving the 12 group runners-up and the four best-performing Nations League teams that haven’t already qualified.
This new format, coupled with the expanded 48-team World Cup, offers more opportunities for European nations to reach the finals. However, it also introduces an element of uncertainty, particularly for teams like Italy, whose qualification path remains unclear until after their Nations League performance.
The qualification matches are set to begin in March 2025 and conclude in November of the same year, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
The post 2026 World Cup European qualifiers: Groups drawn, Italy’s fate hangs in the balance appeared first on FootItalia.com.
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