England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Fixtures, TV Schedule & How to Watch
England is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers under new head coach Thomas Tuchel. The team will play eight matches in the European qualifying stage, aiming to secure a place in the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The qualifiers begin in March with two home games at Wembley Stadium. England will face Albania and Latvia before continuing their campaign. The objective is clear—finish first in the group and qualify directly.
How England Can Qualify for the 2026 World Cup
England must win their group to qualify automatically. If they finish second, they will have to go through the play-offs.
The European qualifiers consist of 12 groups, with 12 group winners earning direct entry into the World Cup. The 12 runners-up will enter the play-offs, along with four additional teams from the UEFA Nations League. These play-offs will determine the final four European spots for the 2026 World Cup.
England will want to avoid the play-offs by securing first place in their group.
England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Fixtures
England will play eight matches during the qualification stage. The campaign starts with two home games at Wembley and ends with an away match against Albania.
The away fixture against Serbia on September 9 is expected to be the most challenging game of the group.
England’s Qualifying TV Schedule
All England World Cup qualifiers will be broadcast live on ITV1 and streamed on ITVX, allowing fans across the UK to watch every match.
| DATE | MATCHUP | TIME (UK) | VENUE | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Mar 21 | England vs Albania | 19:45 | Wembley Stadium | ITV1 / ITVX |
| Mon, Mar 24 | England vs Latvia | 19:45 | Wembley Stadium | ITV1 / ITVX |
| Sat, Jun 7 | Andorra vs England | 17:00 | Estadi Nacional | ITV1 / ITVX |
| Sat, Sept 6 | England vs Andorra | 17:00 | Wembley Stadium | ITV1 / ITVX |
| Tue, Sept 9 | Serbia vs England | 19:45 | Rajko Mitić Stadium | ITV1 / ITVX |
| Tue, Oct 14 | Latvia vs England | 19:45 | Skonto Stadium | ITV1 / ITVX |
| Thu, Nov 13 | England vs Serbia | 19:45 | Wembley Stadium | ITV1 / ITVX |
| Sun, Nov 16 | Albania vs England | 17:00 | Air Albania Stadium | ITV1 / ITVX |
Also Check: FIFA World Cup 2026 Fixtures
How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying in the UK
Football fans in the United Kingdom can watch England’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying matches live on ITV. The games will be broadcast on ITV1 and available for online streaming via ITVX. This ensures fans can follow the action on various devices, whether at home or on the go.
For Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, BBC Sport will provide live coverage. The BBC has secured broadcasting rights, allowing free-to-air access to World Cup qualifiers for these teams.
Additionally, FIFA+, the official streaming service of FIFA, may provide live coverage of select matches. FIFA+ offers football fans access to live games, highlights, and exclusive content related to the World Cup qualifiers.
By using these options, fans in the UK can stay connected to England’s World Cup journey and follow every moment of the qualification campaign.
England’s Friendly Matches in 2025
In addition to their World Cup qualifiers, England will play two international friendlies. These matches will give Thomas Tuchel a chance to test his squad and tactics before important qualifiers.
England’s Friendly Schedule
| DATE | MATCHUP | TIME (UK) | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Jun 10 | England vs Senegal | 19:45 | City Ground |
| Thu, Oct 9 | England vs Wales | 19:45 | Wembley Stadium |
These friendlies will help Tuchel assess player form and experiment with different tactical approaches ahead of the decisive matches in the qualification campaign.
What Happens If England Finishes Second?
If England fails to win their group, they will have to go through the World Cup play-offs.
The play-offs will take place in March 2026 and will feature single-leg semi-finals and a final. The winner of each final will qualify for the World Cup.
To avoid this added pressure, England will aim to secure top spot in their group and qualify directly.
When and Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament will be hosted by three nations—USA, Canada, and Mexico.
This edition will be the first World Cup with 48 teams, an increase from 32 in previous tournaments. The group stage will feature 12 groups of four teams.
The last time multiple nations hosted a World Cup was in 2002, when Japan and South Korea co-hosted the tournament. The expanded format in 2026 will give more nations a chance to compete at the highest level.
England’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin. With Thomas Tuchel leading the team, fans will be eager to see how the squad performs in the qualifiers.
The team has the quality to win the group and qualify directly, but consistency will be key. The away match against Serbia could be a defining moment in the campaign.
The objective is simple – secure direct qualification and avoid the play-offs. The journey to the biggest football tournament in the world starts now.
