England are set to be seeded in the draw for World Cup qualifying, thanks to a combination of their performance in the UEFA Nations League (UNL) and their FIFA world ranking. UEFA has requested special permission to use the final positions in the latest edition of the UNL to determine seeding, in order to avoid scheduling conflicts for countries reaching the quarterfinals of the expanded tournament.
Unlike other confederations that rely solely on world rankings for qualifying, UEFA's approach takes into account both UNL performance and world ranking. This decision has significant implications for England, as they faced the possibility of being placed in Pot 2 after being relegated to League B under Gareth Southgate.
The top eight countries from UNL League A, along with the top four countries by world ranking, will be placed in Pot 1 for the World Cup qualifying draw. This means that powerhouse European nations like France, Spain, England, and Belgium are likely to secure a spot in Pot 1.
The expanded format of the UNL necessitates adjustments to the calendar, with quarterfinal matches scheduled for March 2025. As a result, the World Cup draw will feature winner/loser pairings from the UNL quarterfinals to accommodate the UNL finals in June 2025.
While the exact date of the draw is yet to be confirmed, FIFA has indicated that the final allocation of pots will be determined after the conclusion of the UNL group phase on November 19. The draw will consist of 12 groups of four or five nations, with fixtures scheduled from March to November next year, leading up to the playoffs in March 2026.
This new seeding method offers hope to several countries that would not typically be seeded in the World Cup qualifying draw. Nations like the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Austria are vying for a place in Pot 1, either by finishing in the top two of their UNL group or securing one of the three remaining spots based on FIFA Ranking.
Additionally, countries like Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Scotland, and Israel, which are placed in different pots based on world ranking, now have the opportunity to earn a top seed in the World Cup qualifying draw by performing well in the UNL. The outcome of the draw will be eagerly anticipated by football fans worldwide, as the road to the 2026 World Cup begins to take shape.
