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While qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is well underway across the four corners of the world, the qualifiers in the Europe zone will not begin until next June. Fifa will carry out the draw for the European qualifiers on Friday December 13 in Zurich (12 p.m.). To obtain the 16 European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, 12 groups of four or five teams will be formed. All the first will pocket their sesame for North America. The second 12 will compete in the play-offs with four drafted via the Nations League. The French team is already guaranteed to be a barrier in the event of non-qualification.
France is second in the Fifa Ranking and will therefore be among the top seeds in the draw in two and a half weeks, along with Spain, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland, Denmark and Austria. Selections that the Blues will not face. The great nations of the Old Continent will start from a position of strength and will have no excuse in the event of non-qualification. Even if, in a group of four or five, a poor performance or two can suddenly put a favorite in a bad position.
The French team facing Erling Haaland?
Hat 2 can thus offer a strong opponent for Didier Deschamps and his men. We find Sweden from the duo Alexander Isak-Viktor Gyökeres, Norway Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth or even Poland from Robert Lewandowski and Serbia from Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Nations League allows the selections to face teams of their level and Czech Republic, Wales, Romania and North Macedonia (which will be in pot 3) have excellent results dynamics. Georgia coached by Willy Sagnol will also be in pot 3.
Note that the quarter-finalists of the League of Nations including the France team (which will challenge Croatia next March in a round trip) will not know exactly their qualifying group for the next World Cup. They will have two options. The winners of the quarters will be placed in groups of 4 and those eliminated can find themselves in a group of 4 or a group of 5 (for the first two qualifying matches in June 2025).
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
