Bosnia and Herzegovina will be in Pot 3, along with Scotland, Slovenia, the Republic of Ireland, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Montenegro, and Israel.
UEFA Nations League quarterfinalists Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain are in Pot 1, joined by England, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria based on the latest FIFA rankings.
A total of 54 national teams will compete in the European qualifiers for 16 World Cup spots. The teams will be divided into 12 groups of four or five. Matches will follow a home-and-away format from March to November 2025. Group winners will qualify directly for the World Cup, while runners-up will play in the playoffs.
SEEDINGS:
• Pot 1: France, Spain, England, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland, Denmark and Austria
• Pot 2: Ukraine, Sweden, Türkiye, Wales, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Romania, Greece, Slovakia, Czechia and Norway
• Pot 3: Scotland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Israel
• Pot 4: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Belarus, Kosovo, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia and Lithuania
• Pot 5: Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein and San Marino
