The 2026 World Cup qualifying draw for the European teams has begun in Zurich, and the complication for Italy is that they will be drawn into two possible groups, depending on the result of the Nations League quarter-final against Germany. The Azzurri will be in World Cup qualifying Group A, with four teams, if they beat Germany; they will instead be in Group I, with five national teams, if they lose the Nations League quarter-final.
Slovakia has been drawn into Group A of the qualifiers for the World Cup 2026 where, in case of victory in the Nations League quarter-finals, Italy will be there. If the Azzurri lose the Nations League match, they will play in Group I with Norway. This was established by the draw currently underway in Zurich.
If Italy were to lose the double-header against Germany in March, valid for the quarter-finals of the Nations League, they would face Moldova as their fourth opponent in Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, in addition to Norway, Israel and Estonia.
These are the groups of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup after the DRAW in Zurich and awaiting the outcome of the Nations League quarter-finals scheduled for March:
GROUP A: winner Germany/ITALY, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg;
GROUP B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo;
GROUP C: Loser Portugal/Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus;
GROUP D: winner France/Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan;
GROUP E: winner Spain/Netherlands, Türkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria;
GROUP F: winner Portugal/Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Armenia;
GROUP G: Loser Spain/Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta;
GROUP H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia, Cyprus, San Marino;
GROUP I: Loser Germany/ITALY, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova;
GROUP J: Belgium, Wales, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein;
GROUP K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra;
GROUP L: losers France/Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.
Article published on 13 December 2024 - 14:12
It's interesting to see how Italy can be in two different groups depending on the result against Germany. I hope the Azzurri win, but Slovakia is a tough team to beat in any case.