[Football] World Cup 2026 Qualifying Draw

[bluenitsuj]

Zzzzzzz

 

[PeterT]

The problem with the 48 team tournament that money grabbing Infantilo doesn’t care about is that it makes the qualifying boring, it makes the pool phase in the finals boring, etc etc. I didn’t mind it at 24 teams, and 32 was ok too. Now all he’s done is make qualifying a procession for most countries, and certainly for the bigger countries. If you are Welsh, Scottish, Irish etc you are going to like it though as these smaller nations now have a decent chance of qualifying every time.

 

[dazzer6666]

 

[Eeyore]

Interestingly, England have never played Latvia before. I was hoping we might get GIbralter or The Faroes

 

[Professor Plum]

Would have liked Liechtenstein where I used to have a season ticket for internationals, and Switzerland. The draw we have seems very very dull.

 

[Brovion]

Well at least we avoided the Isle of Man and The Vatican.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

So..... it's coming home?

 

[Jeremiah]

Full group (K)

England
Serbia
Albania
Latvia
Andorra

Surely we can be replaced by Austria so ALL the teams end in A

 

[zefarelly]

That's odd, England appear to have a soft draw

It's deliberate, so we qualify well and give others a soft draw.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Great draw for me as I've only done Andorra out of that lot and that was held in Barcelona so could be 4 new countries.....if I get a ticket......which is highly unlikely.

I did Andorra as well, it was cold and wet and loads of England fans were really underdressed. It was nil nil at half time I think so that didn’t warm anyone up.
Amusingly I remember the bar in the ground being about four deep, surely I wasn’t the only one that knew what ‘sin alcool’ means

 

[amexer]

Far to many teams. Many will disaagree but a farce teams like Gibralter in it .Should be a pre qualification tournament but of course would not make as much money

 

[papachris]

I think I might go to the match in Riga. I can drive there in about 4 hours from my house

 

[Durlston]

Interestingly, England have never played Latvia before. I was hoping we might get GIbralter or The Faroes

Maybe Del Boy can finally manage to flog some of his Latvian alarm clocks after all.

 

[Wozza]

Fixtures are out...

England v Albania
7.45pm GMT, Friday 21 March 2025

England v Latvia
7.45pm GMT, Monday 24 March 2025

Andorra v England
5pm BST, Saturday 7 June 2025

England v Andorra
5pm BST, Saturday 6 September 2025

Serbia v England
7.45pm BST, Tuesday 9 September 2025

Latvia v England
7.45pm BST, Tuesday 14 October 2025

England v Serbia
7.45pm GMT, Thursday 13 November 2025

Albania v England
5pm GMT, Sunday 16 November 2025

 

[amexer]

Roll on the last 16 knockout stage

 

[Badger]

Roll on the last 16 knockout stage

We'll have to get through the last 32 knockout stage first. It's going to be such a joke having 2/3 of teams making the knockout stages.

Having said that, I think Toronto is hosting a couple of last 32 matches. So, bring it on.

 

[el punal]

Well at least we avoided the Isle of Man and The Vatican.

Is Nick Pope the goalie for the Vatican or have I committed a cardinal sin for mentioning it?

 

[JOLovegrove]

Fixtures are out...

England v Albania
7.45pm GMT, Friday 21 March 2025

England v Latvia
7.45pm GMT, Monday 24 March 2025

Andorra v England
5pm BST, Saturday 7 June 2025

England v Andorra
5pm BST, Saturday 6 September 2025

Serbia v England
7.45pm BST, Tuesday 9 September 2025

Latvia v England
7.45pm BST, Tuesday 14 October 2025

England v Serbia
7.45pm GMT, Thursday 13 November 2025

Albania v England
5pm GMT, Sunday 16 November 2025

Interesting the 4 hardest games are our last 4.

 

[papachris]

I think Latvia shouldn't be too hard. Even Estonia, where I live, beat them to win the Baltic Cup last year

 

[Wozza]

Is Nick Pope the goalie for the Vatican or have I committed a cardinal sin for mentioning it?

So many questions.

Does the Vatican set-off a white flare to announce a new sub?