European teams learn World Cup qualifying fate
Saturday, July 25, 2015
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Europe's 52 entrants discovered their route to the 2018 FIFA World Cup following the qualifying draw on Saturday, with UEFA EURO 2012 finalists Spain and Italy set to meet.
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Europe's 52 entrants have learned their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying fate following the draw in St Petersburg on Saturday.
All the UEFA national associations were involved except for Russia, who qualify automatically as hosts, and non-FIFA members Gibraltar. They were drawn into seven groups of six teams and two of five. Among the most eye-catching sections is Group G, which will see UEFA EURO 2012 finalists Spain and Italy meet once more. Elsewhere, UEFA EURO 2016 hosts France will play the Netherlands in Group A, England face Scotland in Group F and holders Germany come up against Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan and San Marino in Group C.
The draw
Group A
Netherlands
France
Sweden
Bulgaria
Belarus
Luxembourg
Group B
Portugal
Switzerland
Hungary
Faroe Islands
Latvia
Andorra
Group C
Germany
Czech Republic
Northern Ireland
Norway
Azerbaijan
San Marino
Group D
Wales
Austria
Serbia
Republic of Ireland
Moldova
Georgia
Group E
Romania
Denmark
Poland
Montenegro
Armenia
Kazakhstan
Group F
England
Slovakia
Scotland
Slovenia
Lithuania
Malta
Group G
Spain
Italy
Albania
Israel
FYR Macedonia
Liechtenstein
Group H
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Greece
Estonia
Cyprus
Group I
Croatia
Iceland
Ukraine
Turkey
Finland
• The nine group winners will advance directly to the final tournament, with the eight best runners-up with the best record against the teams first, third, fourth and fifth in their groups proceeding to play-offs to decide the remaining four European berths.
• Fixtures for all groups will be confirmed on Sunday as well as centralised friendlies involving Russia and the teams in the five-sided Group H.
Road to Russia
Matchday 1: 4–6 September 2016
Matchday 2: 6–8 October 2016
Matchday 3: 9–11 October 2016
Matchday 4: 11–13 November 2016
Matchday 5: 24–26 March 2017
Matchday 6: 9–11 June 2017
Matchday 7: 31 August–2 September 2017
Matchday 8: 3–5 September 2017
Matchday 9: 5–7 October 2017
Matchday 10: 8–10 October 2017
Play-off first leg: 9–11 November 2017
Play-off second leg: 12–14 November 2017
Final tournament (Russia): 14 June–15 July 2018
Continental allocations
Africa: 5
Asia: 4.5
Europe: 13
North, Central America and Caribbean: 3.5
Oceania: 0.5
South America: 4.5
Hosts: 1 (Russia)