March 20, 2025
3 Minute Read
World Cup Qualifying: What to Expect from England & Wales
The long road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins as European teams gear up for a long qualification campaign.
For England and Wales, the challenge is clear—secure top spot in their groups or face the nerve-wracking play-offs. With a new qualification format, fresh managerial approaches, and plenty of unpredictability ahead, there’s a lot to break down.
England’s Campaign: Can Tuchel Deliver?
🔹 March 21: 🏟️ v Albania (Wembley)
🔹 March 24: 🏟️ v Latvia (Wembley)
England’s first competitive games under Thomas Tuchel come with high expectations. Anything less than two wins against Albania and Latvia would cause concern, but with the squad depth at his disposal, Tuchel should be confident.
The bigger question is how England will set up. Tuchel’s tactical adjustments could take time to settle, and Wembley’s crowd will expect dominant performances from the start.
What to Watch:
✅ Will Tuchel opt for his favoured back three or stick with England’s traditional 4-3-3?
✅ How will England’s young stars, like Jude Bellingham, adapt to the new system?
✅ Can England avoid the slow starts that have plagued past qualifying campaigns?
Wales Face a Tougher Test
🔹 March 22: 🏟️ v Kazakhstan (Cardiff)
🔹 March 25: 🏟️ v North Macedonia (Away)
For Wales, things won’t be as straightforward. Their group includes Belgium, North Macedonia, and Kazakhstan, making it a far more competitive battle for qualification.
Craig Bellamy’s side needs a strong start, and the home game against Kazakhstan is a must-win before a difficult away trip to North Macedonia- a side that has made life difficult for big teams in recent years.
What to Watch:
✅ The impact of Aaron Ramsey’s absence- who steps up in midfield?
✅ The emergence of Charlie Andrews, a young talent tipped for big things.
✅ How Bellamy sets up against a tricky North Macedonia side.
How Qualification Works This Time
The 2026 World Cup has a new format, and Europe’s road to qualification looks different:
- 12 group winners qualify directly.
- 12 runners-up go into the play-offs.
- Four extra play-off spots are given to Nations League teams.
- Only 16 European teams will make it to the World Cup.
For England, winning the group should be straightforward. For Wales, a play-off spot might be their best route unless they can pull off an upset against Belgium.
Global Qualifying: Who’s Looking Strong?
While Europe kicks off qualifying, the rest of the world is already deep into their campaigns:
🌎 South America: Argentina leads the pack, with Brazil and Uruguay chasing.
🌏 Asia: Japan, South Korea, and Australia look set to qualify.
🌍 Africa: Morocco and Egypt have started strong, but plenty of battles remain.
🌊 Oceania: New Zealand are clear favourites to claim the automatic spot.
By the end of March, we could see the first confirmed qualifiers outside of the host nations.
Final Thoughts: What’s at Stake?
With a new manager at the helm, England will be expected to cruise through their group- but the focus will be on Tuchel’s tactical setup rather than the results.
For Wales, the stakes are higher. A strong start is crucial, and avoiding an early setback could make all the difference in their qualification hopes.
The long journey to North America 2026 begins now, let’s see who makes an early statement.
