Thomas Tuchel will take on his role as England's head coach three weeks earlier than planned by attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw next week.

The German’s 18-month contract officially starts on 1 January, but he will join the Football Association’s delegation in Zurich, where the European qualification groups will be determined.

Tuchel is expected to participate in post-draw interviews, marking his first formal involvement with the national team ahead of the World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Early Plans and Ambitions

Tuchel has already expressed his ambition to lead England to victory in the World Cup. England, one of the 12 top-seeded nations, is in Pot 1 for the draw. The draw, scheduled for around 11:00 GMT, will allocate teams into 12 groups comprising four or five nations, with 16 European spots available for the tournament.

Outgoing interim manager Lee Carsley has assured Tuchel that the team is in "good shape" for a strong World Cup campaign. Carsley, who stepped in after Gareth Southgate, secured England’s promotion to Nations League A with five wins from six matches. During his tenure, Carsley introduced eight debutants, including Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Qualifying Schedule

Nations drawn into groups of five will begin their qualification campaigns in March 2025, while those in groups of four will start in September 2025. All group matches will conclude by November 2025.

European Qualifiers: Pots for the Draw

Here is the full breakdown of the pots for the European qualifiers draw:

Pot 1:

Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, England, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria

Pot 2:

Ukraine, Sweden, Turkey, Wales, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Czechia, Norway

Pot 3:

Scotland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel

Pot 4:

Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Lithuania

Pot 5:

Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino

The draw is a key milestone as teams across Europe prepare for the road to the 2026 World Cup. England, under Tuchel’s leadership, will aim to live up to their potential and secure a strong performance on the global stage.