The European Qualifiers Draw for the 2026 World Cup has been made and teams now know either all, or the majority, of the teams that they will face in their European Qualifiers campaign in 2025.
We say, the majority, because the final group places for a number of teams will be decided by the outcome of Nations League playoff matches that take place in March 2025.
With 2025 set aside for UEFA to complete its qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup Finals (bar the playoffs, which take place in March 2026), let’s take a look at each of the groups in European qualifying.
We’ll then finish with a look at the latest outright winner odds for the 2026 World Cup at bet365 Sport, before a single game of the European Qualifiers has been played.
2026 World Cup Finals – European Qualifiers Draw
With the number of European teams eligible to qualify for the World Cup Finals increasing from 13 to 16 (as part of the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup Finals), the UEFA Executive Committee modified the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup Finals.
New European Qualifiers Set-Up
The new European Qualifiers set-up features 12 groups, each with four or five teams in a group.
The 12 Group Winners qualify directly to the World Cup Finals.
The 12 second-placed teams in each group, along with the four best-ranked group winners from the 2024/25 Nations League (who did not finish in the top two of their World Cup Qualifying Group) will compete in the March 2026 playoffs to decide the final four teams to qualify.
European Qualifiers – Group Stage
Groups A to F are allocated four teams and begin their campaign for the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers Matchday 5 in September 2025.
Groups G to L are those that contain five teams and they begin their 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers campaign on Matchday 1 in March 2025.
A total of ten matchdays will see the Group Stage completed between March and November 2025.
European Qualifiers – Playoffs
The Playoffs will then be played in March 2026, with four separate pathways, each comprising of two semi-finals (26th March) and then a final (31st March).
The four winners of the Final on the 31st March will be the four final European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup Finals.
Below are how the groups for the 2026 World Cup Finals European Qualifiers, which were drawn on the 13th December 2024, panned out.
Where a team has not yet been decided (due to the Nations League playoffs in March 2025), the possible teams for that group are both listed.
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2026 World Cup European Qualifiers Groups
Group A
- Winner of Germany v Italy
- Slovakia
- Northern Ireland
- Luxembourg
A tough group for Northern Ireland who will have eyes on trying to displace Slovakia to claim a spot in the playoffs with either Germany or Italy likely to win this group.
Group B
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Slovenia
- Kosovo
Perhaps the most open of all the European Qualifiers groups. Switzerland, Sweden and Slovenia will feel they have a chance to win the group, while all four teams may feel a chance of at least a spot in the playoffs is in their grasp.
Group C
- Loser of Portugal v Denmark
- Greece
- Scotland
- Belarus
A tricky-looking group for Scotland, who will likely be hoping Denmark lose to Portugal. Greece are no pushovers, as England found out in the Nations League but Scotland have the capability to realistically challenge for top spot in the group.
Group D
- Winner of France v Croatia
- Ukraine
- Iceland
- Azerbaijan
With Iceland’s decline in form it looks likely to be a battle between either France or Croatia, and the Ukraine for the top spot in the group. The away games in Azerbaijan and Iceland could decide who takes the honours in Group D.
Group E
- Winner of Spain v Netherlands
- Turkey
- Georgia
- Bulgaria
Group E is another strong group with both Turkey and Georgia both vastly improved in recent times. Bulgaria will likely pose few problems for the other three teams who will likely run Spain or the Netherlands close.
Group F
- Winner of Portugal v Denmark
- Hungary
- Republic of Ireland
- Armenia
Republic of Ireland have drawn a tough group with either Portugal or Denmark, plus the excellent Hungary team, plus a tricky trip looms away to Armenia. The Irish are going to need key wins at home against the better teams to stand a realistic chance in this group.
Group G
- Loser of Spain v Netherlands
- Poland
- Finland
- Lithuania
- Malta
One of the weaker groups on paper at least. The loser of the Nations League clash between Spain and the Netherlands will at least have the consolation of taking on a fading duo of Poland and Finland, plus two weak teams in Lithuania and Malta.
Group H
- Austria
- Romania
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Cyprus
- San Marino
This group will likely be a three-way battle for top spot with Austria and Romania the favourites and Bosnia & Herzegovina possibly able to bring themselves into contention. Cyprus and San Marino will likely be struggling for points in Group H.
Group I
- Loser of Germany v Italy
- Norway
- Israel
- Estonia
- Moldova
The loser of the Germany v Italy clash will have to face off with Erling Haaland and an improving Norway team in Group I. It looks like being a straight out battle between those teams for top spot.
Group J
- Belgium
- Wales
- North Macedonia
- Kazakhstan
- Liechtenstein
Wales and Belgium renew acquaintances once again and it looks like being a battle between the two for top spot in the group. A couple of tricky away trips to North Macedonia and Kazakhstan could well decide who tops this group.
Group K
- England
- Serbia
- Albania
- Latvia
- Andorra
England face trips to the Balkans to face Serbia and Albania in what will likely be two tricky away games, but ones you’d expect England to win. Tuchel’s team should win this group and it would be a surprise if Serbia don’t finish second.
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Group L
- Loser of France v Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Montenegro
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
The fact the Czech Republic are in this group makes this a tricky one for either France or Croatia. Montenegro away will also be a test. However you’d fancy the loser of the game between France and Croatia to prevail here.
2026 World Cup – Current Outright Winner Betting Odds at Bet365
Bet365 Sport has already listed odds for the outright winner of the 2026 World Cup Finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico and you can see a snapshot of some of the major contenders below.
Currently, you can see that there are three joint-favourites to lift the trophy. France the 2018 winners and 2022 runner-up, Spain, the current European Champions and perennial World Cup favourites Brazil are all 7.00 at the time of writing.
Thomas Tuchel’s England are currently 8.00 in the standard bets, but bet365 Sport is currently offering a Bet Boost on England to win outright, boosted from 8.00 to 9.00.
Next in the odds after the Three Lions come the current World Cup Champions, Argentina and a new and improving Germany, who are both ranked at 11.00 and who, for me, represent the best value bets at the present moment.
Other top nations from the European Qualifiers come next with Portugal 17.00 and the Netherlands and Italy both 21.00. Belgium are rated at 34.00 alongside South Americans Uruguay with another South American team in good form, Colombia, is rated at 41.00.
Host nations the USA (51.00), Mexico (67.00) and Canada (151.00) are rated amongst the outsiders for the tournament.
Of course, as the European Qualifiers get underway and the qualifying campaigns in other parts of the world either continue or start, these odds will likely fluctuate as we head towards a new-look, multi-host, 48-team World Cup finals in 2026!
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