The World Cup 2026 qualifying draw has been made, giving England fans a look at the opponents they will face en route to America. Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland also learned their fate.
With just under two years to go until World Cup 2026 starts, it’s time for European nations to start to qualify for the event. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland fans can now begin to plan their trips across the continent.
In this guide below we’ve taken a look at each of the nations that the Home Nations will play as they prepare to qualify for World Cup 2026.
If you want to plan your trip to the World Cup 2026 proper, early ticket information is available.
Be there for Thomas Tuchel’s first two games in charge of the #ThreeLions! 👏
— England (@England) December 20, 2024

Contents
Placed into Group K, England will face off against Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. Here is our guide for each of those opponents.
England fans have an interesting history with Serbia. Most notably, a fan back in June 2024 woke up in the empty stadium at 4am, having fallen asleep after the Serbia vs England game. Sadly, England fans won’t have positive memories of Serbia, with fans stuck waiting for over three hours to get clear of the stadium and onto transport links.
The game will likely be played at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, home of FK Crvena Zvezda, though the national team are constructing a new stadium.
England played Albania twice in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup, coming away victorious in both games. For fans travelling to Albania, it can be a hostile atmosphere for anyone, with the nation recently charged by UEFA with hostilities towards Italian fans at Euro 2024.
The game should be played at the Arena Kombetare, used by the Albanian national team.
Latvia will be a new opponent for England, with the men’s team having never played them before. While the country will undoubtedly be excited to play England, Latvia is not known for being a footballing nation. The national team stadium, Daugava Stadium, has just a 10,000 capacity and is used by four sides, including the national team.
Andorra are a growing football nation, having only been playing on the world stage since 1994. They will comfortably be the weakest link in the England group, which makes them an obvious banana skin. They failed to win any of their EURO 2024 qualifiers, though they did win a friendly against San Marino in 2024. The national team play at the Estadi Nacional, which has just a 3,306 capacity total.
🗓️ Our @FIFAWorldCup qualifier kick-off dates and times have been confirmed. pic.twitter.com/2ofcWiGBCk
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) December 14, 2024

Placed into Group C, Scotland will face Greece, Bulgaria, and either Portugal or Denmark. Here is our guide for each of those opponents
Estádio da Luz or Estádio do Dragão will likely host the match if Portugal faces Scotland. Portuguese fans are passionate, and Lisbon or Porto offers incredible experiences for travelling Scots, blending vibrant football atmospheres with rich culture and cuisine.
Matches in Denmark will likely be played at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, known for its electric atmosphere. Danish fans are friendly, but Scotland supporters should pack warm clothing for any winter fixture.
Greece will be a new experience for Scottish fans, but fans can expect a fiery reception at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens. Greece’s football atmosphere is intense, and the heat and passionate home crowd could be challenging. Scotland fans should get used to Greece, as the two nations have been drawn in both the Nations League and World Cup group stages.
Bulgaria hosted Scotland in the Nations League in 2020, where Scotland secured a 1-0 victory, so fans will have a good idea of what to expect. Matches would likely be held at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia, with travelling supporters expecting a no-frills stadium but a lively and passionate home crowd.
Wales was drawn into Group J alongside Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. Here is our guide for each of those opponents
Wales had a famous fixture against Belgium in a thrilling 3-1 victory in Euro 2016’s quarter-finals. The match will likely be held at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, which offers a top-tier venue and welcomes travelling fans. Belgian beer and cuisine are additional highlights for travelling supporters.
Wales has never played North Macedonia in a competitive game, but any match here would be challenging. Games are likely held at the Tose Proeski Arena in Skopje, where passionate fans create a lively atmosphere. The city also offers unique cultural experiences for visiting supporters.
Kazakhstan’s Astana Arena is another long trip for Welsh fans but will offer them a unique experience. Wales last played Kazakhstan in 2019, securing a narrow 1-0 win. For fans making the journey, the cultural contrast and unique setting make it a memorable experience.
Liechtenstein offers a quaint footballing experience. The Rheinpark Stadion is nestled in the picturesque Alps. Wales has never faced Liechtenstein, but this venue’s intimate atmosphere and beautiful surroundings would make for a relaxed and scenic away trip.
Northern Ireland was placed into Group A alongside Slovakia, Luxembourg, and either Italy or Germany. Here is our guide for each of those opponents
Matches in Italy will likely be held at the San Siro or Stadio Olimpico, the former of which is likely to remain in operation in 2025. In Germany, the match will likely be played at Allianz Arena or Signal Iduna Park, giving Northern Irish fans a top-tier venue regardless of who they face.
Northern Ireland has played Slovakia five times, securing the one win in a friendly in 1998. Since then, however, Slovakia has dominated, beating Northern Ireland at three major competitions. The Slovakian national team plays at the Tehelné Pole in Bratislava, a welcoming stadium with a passionate but fair crowd. The stadium can hold 22,500 fans.
Luxembourg hosted Northern Ireland in a friendly in 2019, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the visitors. The sides have met six times, with Northern Ireland winning three and drawing the rest. The Stade de Luxembourg will likely host the game, offering a modern, intimate venue for Travelling fans.
Due to the nature of the number of teams in the European stage, groups were split into six groups of four (A-F) and six groups of five (G-L). Some groups (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, L) will also not have their pot one side confirmed until June.
This is because the winner and loser of the Nations League quarter-final matches will be placed into those groups. However, this was all planned in the draw with ‘QF4′, for example, being placed into Group A. For context, that would mean Germany or Italy.
David Hollingsworth
David has spent most of his writing life at the esports and video game grindstone. Working in the industry for over 15 years, travelling to events. He began writing about football five years ago, working for fan sites of his beloved Newcastle United. David is more than just a Toon fan, however, watching almost every Premier League and European game he can. Now living in Europe, he watches local football in Sweden, while travelling to the UK with his daughter when he can to watch matches.

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