The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been laid out for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland following the qualifying draw held in Zurich on Friday. Each nation now knows the challenges ahead as they vie for a spot in the tournament, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

England

Under the guidance of newly appointed manager Thomas Tuchel, England will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in their group. With a blend of competitive and less formidable opponents, England will look to assert dominance and secure automatic qualification.

Wales

Wales finds itself in a group with familiar rivals Belgium, alongside North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. The clash with Belgium is expected to be a key fixture, as the Welsh aim to secure their place in the expanded tournament.

Scotland

Scotland faces Greece, Belarus, and the loser of the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark. The Scots also have a separate challenge in March, with a two-legged Nations League promotion-relegation play-off against Greece, providing an early taste of their group dynamics.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has been drawn alongside Slovakia, Luxembourg, and the winner of the Nations League quarter-final between Germany and Italy. With a compact group, every match will carry added significance as they aim to contend for qualification.

The Qualifying Format

The qualifiers will take place during five international breaks between March and November 2025. The winner of each of the 12 groups will automatically secure a place in the 2026 World Cup, while the second-placed teams will advance to the play-offs. From Europe, a total of 16 teams will qualify for the tournament.

For Scotland and Northern Ireland, who are in four-team groups, the qualifying games will begin in September 2025. Until then, both teams have a critical focus on their Nations League campaigns, which could set the tone for their qualification journey.

Swedish prosecutors have closed an investigation into an alleged rape in Stockholm, a case that Swedish media had linked to French football star and Real Madrid player Kylian Mbappé. Marina Chirakova, a senior prosecutor with the Swedish Prosecution Authority, announced the decision, citing insufficient evidence to proceed further.

Mbappé, one of football’s most renowned figures, was never formally named or notified as a suspect by Swedish authorities. The allegations, which emerged in October, included claims of a rape and two cases of sexual harassment reportedly occurring at a hotel in Stockholm on October 10.

Swedish media outlets, including Aftonbladet, Expressen, and public broadcaster SVT, had speculated about Mbappé’s involvement, noting his presence in Stockholm during the time of the alleged incident. Police were seen collecting evidence from the Bank Hotel, where he stayed, including clothing.

Mbappé vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing the reports as “fake news.” His lawyer, while confirming plans to file a defamation claim, declined to comment on the closure of the case. Speaking publicly for the first time on the matter on French TV show Clique, Mbappé reiterated his innocence. “I haven’t received anything, no summons… I’m not involved,” he stated.

The prosecutor’s decision brings an end to the preliminary investigation, leaving the allegations unsubstantiated.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has apologized for his recent comments criticizing the club’s owners following the team’s 4-3 loss to Chelsea. In an interview with Spanish broadcaster Telemundo Deportes, Romero expressed frustration over the club’s lack of investment, stating, “Something is going wrong, hopefully, they [the board] realize it.”

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou addressed the issue, stating that Romero acknowledged his remarks were not entirely appropriate. “He realizes a lot of what he said was good, but some wasn’t the right way of dealing with it,” Postecoglou said. “It shows he cares, but there’s a way to do it, and this wasn’t it.”

Romero’s comments came after a challenging match against Chelsea, in which Tottenham lost despite leading 2-0. The Argentine defender, along with teammate Micky van de Ven, returned to the lineup but both suffered injuries during the game. Romero was substituted in the 15th minute, while Van de Ven exited 11 minutes from the end.

Both players will miss Tottenham’s upcoming Europa League clash against Rangers at Ibrox, and their return timelines remain uncertain. “We’re still getting some clarity around the prognosis,” Postecoglou said. “It’s disappointing because we’re pretty thin on numbers and have been dealing with that for a while.”

Adding to the team’s challenges, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, currently serving a domestic suspension for a racial slur against teammate Son Heung-min, will be available for the Europa League fixture.