England could face harder World Cup qualification group as UEFA make significant change to draw format

England could be handed an even harder FIFA World Cup qualifying group as a significant rule change threatens to pit the Three Lions against higher ranking opponents.

Thomas Tuchel will get his England reign underway in January with his immediate task being to navigate his squad through qualifiers for the upcoming 2026 World Cup taking place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The German has already outlined his ambition to win the tournament and deliver World Cup glory but now finds himself in the predicament of facing multiple home nations in qualifying.

Pots for competing European countries in the draw are decided by performances in the Nations League and the rules previously meant quarter-finalists and play-off teams in pots two, three and four would be put ‘in priority allocated groups of four.’

However, that ruling has now been changed and it could spell disaster for England’s hopes of reaching the World Cup.

England are fourth in FIFA’s world rankings and have been placed in pot one with all of the Nations League A quarter-finalists including Portugal, Germany, and France.

The draw for England’s World Cup qualifiers will be made on December 13 as Thomas Tuchel waits to find out his side’s opponents

Those teams were expecting to go into a group of four with the Nations League play-off teams across pots two through four.

However, England’s position as Nations League group winners mean they now find themselves at risk of being placed in a five-man group and can be drawn against more than one home nation.

The draw will take place on December 13 and Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland could find themselves being put into a derby contest that will undoubtedly raise expectations and rivalry tension.

England’s worst-case draw would see them tied with Erling Haaland’s Norway, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova, but two home nations could also feature that would made for fierce qualification encounters.

Meanwhile, the change is more likely to spell disaster for Wales who won their Nations League group under new manager Craig Bellamy and were expecting to be in a group of five that would give them more chance of qualifying.

Now they will face the prospect of being paired in a four-team group against one of Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal or Euro 2024 holders Spain.

England’s position as Nations League group winners mean they now find themselves at risk of being placed in a five-man group

England can be drawn against  more than one home nation with Wales also affected by the rule change

Meanwhile, Tuchel will get his England reign started with an opening game in March, but it is yet to be determined who the opponent will be.

The German is already facing scrutiny after the FA decided against recruiting another Englishman to replace Gareth Southgate, but Tuchel isn’t concerned by the magnitude of the job at hand.

‘I am sorry I just have a German passport but maybe the supporters can feel my passion for the Premier League, my passion for the country, how I love to live and work here,’ he previously said upon taking the job.

‘I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country. This is the biggest one in world football and everybody can be assured, no matter what nationality my passport says.’