World Cup Qualifiers Draw

[badabing67]

European teams will discover their 2026 World Cup qualifying opponents in Friday’s draw, which will be held at 11:00 GMT in Zurich.

I wonder who we will get.

World Cup 2026 qualifying draw: Date, time, seeds, format & how will it work? - BBC Sport (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czjd972k18do)

[O'Rourke3]

European teams will discover their 2026 World Cup qualifying opponents in Friday’s draw, which will be held at 11:00 GMT in Zurich.

I wonder who we will get.

World Cup 2026 qualifying draw: Date, time, seeds, format & how will it work? - BBC Sport (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czjd972k18do)


England, Wales and Scotland in the same qualifying group then. If the draw takes as long as UEFA's, we'll know by tea time what the groups are.

[SHODAN]

France, Sweden, Scotland, Bulgaria

England, Slovakia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands

Nailed on.

[GreenCastle]

Interesting to read some countries don’t / can’t play others due to travel and weather conditions!!

[SHODAN]

England, Wales and Scotland in the same qualifying group then. If the draw takes as long as UEFA's, we'll know by tea time what the groups are.

It'll be the usual self-aggrandising guff from FIFA followed by a half hour demonstration of how the draw works. It'll get started at half 12 at the absolute earliest.

[badabing67]

I think this is the draw live on UEFA youtube channel

UEFA Preliminary Draw Live FIFA World Cup 26 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztrv4GA0lBM)

[Posh Swanny]

I think this is the draw live on UEFA youtube channel

UEFA Preliminary Draw Live FIFA World Cup 26 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztrv4GA0lBM)

It's live on the BBC website now.

[badabing67]

It's live on the BBC website now.

:aok:


2026 World Cup qualifying draw LIVE: Watch stream & follow updates as England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland find out opponents - BBC Sport (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c4g3rnmyrn8t#player)

[JohnM1875]

What a ridiculously complicated draw.

[badabing67]

They say we are more likely to get a group with 4 teams if we do I hope its Group B with the Swiss

[SteveHFC]

What a ridiculously complicated draw.

No need for the dramatic music every time.

[Northernhibee]

No need for the dramatic music every time.

They should put the Benny Hill music on, may speed it up a bit.

[Donegal Hibby]

Probably group H is looking the best one to get drawn in so far

[Billy Whizz]

I’d take that Austria/Romania or Belgium/Wales group now

[SteveHFC]

C it is

[JohnM1875]

Likely to be Denmark and Greece. Not bad.

[badabing67]

Portugal again then

[SteveHFC]

Likely to be Denmark and Greece. Not bad.

Could win that group.

[JohnM1875]

Could win that group.

Absolutely in with a chance

[JohnM1875]

Just get on with it. So pointless.

[SteveHFC]

Do we need a break?

[dalkeith stu]

Looking at some of the countries in pot 2 it's crazy we are down in pot 3!!! Norway ffs???

[SJNB Hibby]

we could play Greece 4 times within a couple of months

[flash]

The banter is absolutely excruciating.

[SteveHFC]

Belarus it is.

[Billy Whizz]

Belarus it is.

Where do they play their home games

[SJNB Hibby]

Lets give Belarus a nice 'warm' welcome to Scotland

[Pretty Boy]

Where do they play their home games

Was wondering the same. I take it it won't be Minsk and if so I'd imagine travel would be nigh on impossible.

[MartinfaePorty]

My Scotland WhatsApp group says they play all their home games behind closed doors. They should be banned, in the same way as Russia.

[SJNB Hibby]

Was wondering the same. I take it it won't be Minsk and if so I'd imagine travel would be nigh on impossible.
Didn't Hearts have to play in Azerbaijan or Kazakhstan?

[poulton hibs]

They played Norther Ireland in Hungary last year behind closed doors because of their support for Russia in Ukraine. Not sure if the closed doors applies going forward.

[Billy Whizz]

They played Norther Ireland in Hungary last year behind closed doors because of their support for Russia in Ukraine. Not sure if the closed doors applies going forward.

Played Luxembourg there too
TA won’t be happy with a closed doors game

[davhibby]

No reason we can’t win that group. I guess the other side of that is that if we don’t turn up even just in 1 of the 4 games against the top 2 we could easily end up 3rd with no playoff. Good chance to lay down a marker against Greece in March

[GreenCastle]

Portugal - Denmark - Greece - Belarus

Difficult group.

Away games going to be pretty tough. Portugal rarely lose at home. Greece tricky and Denmark also not exactly easy - Belarus probably at some neutral venue with no fans which is pretty ridiculous.

[HibbyAndy]

Few folk on facebook wanting Portugal in the group , Surely we want Denmark ?

[B.H.F.C]

Portugal - Denmark - Greece - Belarus

Difficult group.

Away games going to be pretty tough. Portugal rarely lose at home. Greece tricky and Denmark also not exactly easy - Belarus probably at some neutral venue with no fans which is pretty ridiculous.

It’s Portugal or Denmark, whoever loses Nations League tie.

Denmark from Pot 1 would be a result.

[Musselbound]

Looking at some of the countries in pot 2 it's crazy we are down in pot 3!!! Norway ffs???

I don't think it's done us any harm in the end as few of the Pot 2 countries look any better than us. Denmark is a good result from Pot 1 if it turns out to be them.

[Paul1642]

Good group IMO as long as Portugal beat Denmark which I think they will. Play like we did for the latter games of the Nations League and could win it.

[SHODAN]

That group isn't insurmountable.

Again, however, both my partner and daughter are dual British-Greek citizens so I'd rather we hadn't got them!

[K-Zazu]

Belarus play behind closed doors in Hungary I think 🤔

[He's here!]

Home Nations should be taking a lead and boycotting the World Cup altogether in protest at the Saudi announcement.

[cabbageandribs1875]

gonna be tough to get 2nd

Wales will go through

England, well what can one say

[HoboHarry]

The only important question is are Scotland likely to be playing World Cup games in Houston or Dallas? :greengrin

[CropleyWasGod]

The only important question is are Scotland likely to be playing World Cup games in Houston or Dallas? :greengrin

Start the auction for letting out your spare room.....:greengrin

[Michael]

Home Nations should be taking a lead and boycotting the World Cup altogether in protest at the Saudi announcement.

If anything was to happen it would have been after the Qatar award. After they announced they couldn't even meet the criteria of hosting in summer, and still no one said anything.

[HoboHarry]

Start the auction for letting out your spare room.....:greengrin
Two spare rooms now the children have flown the coop - I'm going to be rich :greengrin

[B.H.F.C]

I think it’s a pretty decent draw. Denmark have been good for a number of years but you’d take them all day long as the team from Pot 1. With it only being a four team group if you can get off to a good start (similar to what we did in qualifying for the Euros) you could almost have it done and dusted. Make sure you take six points from Belarus and win the two Hampden games against the others.

[HibbyAndy]

gonna be tough to get 2nd

Wales will go through

England, well what can one say


Maybe via a play off but no danger are they finishing above Belgium who i ken aren't what they used to be but still better than Wales

[Chorley Hibee]

Serbia v Albania (In England's group) will quite literally be a riot.

[Scouse Hibee]

A tough draw for England, will be a real achievement to qualify yet again!

[Cat Stanton]

England, well what can one say

https://youtu.be/pOPgNIyRBD0?si=u3gV1PCMo1H3S3LE

[Col2]

Portugal will win a two leg match v Denmark. A one off game? Maybe less so but Portugal and very strong qualifiers.

On that basis that is a very decent draw and especially as we are 3rd seeds. Even Clarke was smiling when interviewed.

Denmark are probably the pick of pot 1 teams to get, Greece are decent but it could have been tougher and Belarus will be in Hungary at neutral venue.

We could win that group.

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

We’ll be guaranteed qualification before England are. Piss easy group for the mighty Scotland The Brave.


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[Joe6-2]

A tough draw for England, will be a real achievement to qualify yet again!

How do they manage it every time, you’d think they picked them themselves

[Nicho87]

Ridiculous group for England, thoughts with them on that unlucky draw.

As for Scotland, Greece looked very good at Wembley, Denmark away will be tough. You’re looking at realistically winning two home games and a draw minimum to be in contention. 6 points taken from belarus is vital.

[Jones28]

Belarus it is.

They should be nowhere ****ing near it.

[Since452]

A tough draw for England, will be a real achievement to qualify yet again!

Who did they get? Let me guess. Kazakhstan, Lapland, Greenland, San Marino and Craggy Island?

[cabbageandribs1875]

Maybe via a play off but no danger are they finishing above Belgium who i ken aren't what they used to be but still better than Wales

i've only just noticed they're in a group of Five, is it top two go through ? if so i'd put a full £1 on them progressing


https://youtu.be/pOPgNIyRBD0?si=u3gV1PCMo1H3S3LE


i've never saw that before, brilliant :)


Who did they get? Let me guess. Kazakhstan, Lapland, Greenland, San Marino and Craggy Island?

:hilarious

[cabbageandribs1875]

full draw

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.


great opposition for Austria huh

[Pretty Boy]

In terms of pot 3 teams I think we did ok.

Iceland, Albania, Northern Ireland, Georgia, Montenegro, Finland and Albania all with tougher draws than us on paper.

I think us, Slovenia and Ireland can be relatively happy all things considered.

[SteveHFC]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241213/1f30113bea6b0cc10b2bdb95f1d835b7.jpg
Fixtures confirmed. Need to get at least 9 points in the first 4 games.


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[B.H.F.C]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241213/1f30113bea6b0cc10b2bdb95f1d835b7.jpg
Fixtures confirmed. Need to get at least 9 points in the first 4 games.


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If we can avoid defeat and win in Belarus (or whatever neutral country we play them in) that would give us a great chance. Anything less and you’ll be chasing right from the off, which is no good in such a short format.