THE World Cup 2026 qualifying draw is taking place TODAY – and you can watch it for FREE.
The draw – which is for the European section of qualification – will not be broadcast live in the UK but that does not mean that England fans will miss any of the action.
New England manager is expected to attend the draw
SunSport will live blog the draw as it happens but anyone with a decent internet connection will also be able to stream it.
New England boss Thomas Tuchel – who officially starts his new role on January 1 – will be watching with a keen eye.
Here’s how to follow the 54-team draw from Fifa HQ in Zurich, Switzerland, as it happens.
Follow the draw as it happens with our LIVE blog
How can I watch the World Cup 2026 qualifying draw for FREE?
In the UK, the draw will be shown for free on Fifa’s own YouTube channel and the BBC Sport website.
Anyone can watch on the YouTube channel, although to watch on the BBC website you will need to have a TV licence.
What time is the World Cup 2026 qualifying draw?
The 2026 World Cup qualification draw takes place on Friday, December 13 at approximately 11am GMT (12pm CET).
However, Fifa usually like to also spend a while introducing guests and giving speeches so names may not be pulled out of the pot until closer to 11.30am GMT.
Southgate vs Tuchel records compared
THOMAS TUCHEL
Augsburg II 2007-2008
P34 W 20 D8 L6 Win percentage: 58.82%
Mainz 05 2009-2014
P184 W72 D46 L66 Win percentage: 39.13%
Borussia Dortmund 2015-2017
P107 W67 D23 L17 Win percentage: 62.62%
Honours: DFB Pokal
Paris Saint Germain 2018-2020
P127 W95 D13 L16 Win percentage: 74.8%
Honours: Ligue 1 X2, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophee des Champions x2
Chelsea 2021-2022
P100 W60 D24 L16 Win percentage: 60%
Honours: Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup
Bayern Munich 2023-2024
P61 W37 D8 L16 Win percentage: 60.66%
Honours: Bundesliga
GARETH SOUTHGATE
Middlesbrough 2006-2009
P151 W54 D43 Win percentage: 35.76%
England U21 2013-2016
P37 W27 D5 L5 Win percentage: 72.97%
Honours: Toulon tournament
England 2016-2024
P102 W61 D24 L17 Win percentage: 59.8%
Honours: Euros runners up, 2020, 2024
What is the format for the World Cup 2026 qualifying draw?
There are 54 teams in the European section of the draw with Russia suspended from entering the competition due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Teams are seeded into five pots, with pots one to four containing 12 teams and pot five with six teams.
They will be drawn into 12 groups – six groups of four (A-F) and six groups of five (G-L)
Those drawn in the five-team groups will begin their qualification campaigns in March 2025, while those in four-team groups will start their campaign in September 2025.
Because of the Nations League – which also plays matches in March – five-team groups can only contain one team participating in those March matches.
The other four teams will then play among themselves during that international break.
The draw will start with Pot 1 and finish with Pot 5 – a team will be drawn and assigned to the first available group.
There are certain restrictions that will be applied to the draw, firstly due to the Nations League, which means certain teams cannot be drawn into certain groups due to scheduling conflicts.
Other restrictions include teams that cannot be drawn together for political reasons – Kosovo and Serbia, for example – and only two teams with medium/high risk of severe winter conditions can be drawn together.
Certain teams, such as Kazakhstan, cannot be drawn with multiple teams if the travel is deemed to excessive.
ANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love life
By Andy Dillon
THOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.
Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.
English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.
Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.
Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.
Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.
Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.
An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.
Read more on why Tuchel REALLY IS the best man for the England job
Who can England face in World Cup 2026 qualifying?
The Three Lions are in Pot 1 due to their excellent performances in recent major tournaments.
That means Tuchel and Co will not face the likes of Spain, France, Germany and other European heavyweights.
Pot 2 contains the likes of Ukraine, Sweden and Turkey, while there is the potential for local derbies against any of the other home nations.
Wales are in Pot 2, while Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are all in Pot 3.
The pots are in full here:
Pot One: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, England, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria.
Pot Two: Ukraine, Sweden, Turkey, Wales, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Norway.
Pot Three: Scotland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel.
Pot Four: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Lithuania.
Pot Five: Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino.
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