Wales discover opponents in World Cup 2026 qualifying draw
Wales will face Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein as Craig Bellamy discovered his side’s opponents for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in a draw in Zurich.
Group stage matches will be played between March-November 2025. The 12 group winners qualify directly for the World Cup; the four remaining berths are determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up.
The 12 group runners-up will participate in the play-offs, along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that did not finish their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.
The 16 teams who enter the play-offs will be drawn into four play-off paths, with four teams in each. Play-off matches will be played in single-leg semi-finals followed by single-leg finals within the same international window in March 2026.
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy was happy to have been placed in a group of five alongside regular recent foes Belgium, plus North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein.
“It gets the competition going really quick, so that’s a real positive,” he said.
“It’s a good group, but we’re going to have to do our homework really well and hopefully try and attack it and finish top of the group.”
📆
The road to the @FIFAWorldCup #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/LMCeqXZEXT
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) December 13, 2024
🗣️ Craig Bellamy’s reaction to the @FIFAWorldCup qualifiers draw.
📹 @sgorio#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/a5qKO4M2tg
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) December 13, 2024
Ein llwybr i'r @FIFAWorldCup…
🇧🇪🇲🇰🇰🇿🇱🇮#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/7ppxmtmqsm
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) December 13, 2024
Full draw for the European section of qualifying for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Draw for the European section of qualifying for the 2026 men’s World Cup:
Group A: Winner of Germany v Italy, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.
Group C: Loser of Portugal v Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus.
Group D: Winner of France v Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.
Group E: Winner of Spain v Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.
Group F: Winner of Portugal v Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.
Group G: Loser of Spain v Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.
Group I: Loser of Germany v Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.
Group L: Loser of France v Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.
* Qualifiers will be played between March and November 2025.
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