Poland will face either European champions Spain or semi-finalists the Netherlands in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, with Finland, Lithuania and Malta rounding out Group G.
The news comes after the team saw their seeding tumble following a disappointing campaign in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, a poor showing at the tournament itself and their recent relegation to the Nations League Division B.
At Friday’s ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, Poland found themselves in the second pot and had been expected to be drawn against one of the heavyweights in a group where only the best team will automatically qualify for the World Cup.
However, there had been a significant chance that Poland would only learn their toughest rival in March, seeing that eight out of the 12 top-seeded teams are yet to play their Nations League quarterfinals. The winners of these matches had been guaranteed to be drawn in groups of four, with the losers co-forming groups of five.
When Poland were drawn into Group G, along with the loser of the Spain-Netherlands fixture, it was confirmed that Michał Probierz’s charges would face four opponents.
While Probierz will not look forward to facing either Spain or the Netherlands, the coach could breathe a sigh of relief later when Finland, Lithuania and Malta found themselves grouped together with Poland. This rather favorable draw gives the Poles a strong chance of hitting the minimum target of at least reaching the World Cup play-offs.
At Friday’s ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, Poland found themselves in the second pot and had been expected to be drawn against one of the heavyweights in a group where only the best team will automatically qualify for the World Cup.
However, there had been a significant chance that Poland would only learn their toughest rival in March, seeing that eight out of the 12 top-seeded teams are yet to play their Nations League quarterfinals. The winners of these matches had been guaranteed to be drawn in groups of four, with the losers co-forming groups of five.
The draw
When Poland were drawn into Group G, along with the loser of the Spain-Netherlands fixture, it was confirmed that Michał Probierz’s charges would face four opponents.
While Probierz will not look forward to facing either Spain or the Netherlands, the coach could breathe a sigh of relief later when Finland, Lithuania and Malta found themselves grouped together with Poland. This rather favorable draw gives the Poles a strong chance of hitting the minimum target of at least reaching the World Cup play-offs.
From Poland’s perspective, finishing ahead of either Spain or the Netherlands would be considered a massive upset given the side’s declining quality.
While the European champions are a team that all have come to fear, it is the Dutch that have proved Poland’s banana skin in recent years, with the Poles losing four times—including at Euro 2024—and drawing just once in five meetings over the last five years.
For the first time, the pool of European nations qualifying for the World Cup has been increased from 13 to 16, something driven by the expansion of the tournament from 32 teams to 48.
The winners of the 12 groups will advance directly, while the remaining four will be determined by two-stage play-offs, which will feature the second-place teams and the best four teams of the 2024/25 Nations League that did not rank first or second in their World Cup qualifying groups.
The World Cup will be held in June and July 2026 in three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Group A
Winner Germany-Italy (Nations League Quarter Final 4)
Slovakia
Northern Ireland
Luxembourg
Group B
Switzerland
Sweden
Slovenia
Kosovo
Group C
Defeated team Portugal-Denmark (UNL QF3)
Greece
Scotland
Belarus
Group D
Winner France-Croatia (UNL QF2)
Ukraine
Iceland
Azerbaijan
Group E
Winner Spain-Netherlands (UNL QF1)
Turkey
Georgia
Bulgaria
Group F
Winner Portugal-Denmark (UNL QF3)
Hungary
Republic of Ireland
Armenia
Group G
Defeated team Spain-Netherlands (UNL QF1)
Poland
Finland
Lithuania
Malta
Group H
Austria
Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cyprus
San Marino
Group I
Defeated team Germany-Italy (UNL QF4)
Norway
Israel
Estonia
Moldova
Group J
Belgium
Wales
North Macedonia
Kazakhstan
Liechtenstein
Group K
England
Serbia
Albania
Latvia
Andorra
Group L
Defeated team France-Croatia (UNL QF2)
Czechia
Montenegro
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
While the European champions are a team that all have come to fear, it is the Dutch that have proved Poland’s banana skin in recent years, with the Poles losing four times—including at Euro 2024—and drawing just once in five meetings over the last five years.
World Cup 2026: The three hosts
For the first time, the pool of European nations qualifying for the World Cup has been increased from 13 to 16, something driven by the expansion of the tournament from 32 teams to 48.
The winners of the 12 groups will advance directly, while the remaining four will be determined by two-stage play-offs, which will feature the second-place teams and the best four teams of the 2024/25 Nations League that did not rank first or second in their World Cup qualifying groups.
The World Cup will be held in June and July 2026 in three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
World Cup 2026, European zone draw results:
Group A
Winner Germany-Italy (Nations League Quarter Final 4)
Slovakia
Northern Ireland
Luxembourg
Group B
Switzerland
Sweden
Slovenia
Kosovo
Group C
Defeated team Portugal-Denmark (UNL QF3)
Greece
Scotland
Belarus
Group D
Winner France-Croatia (UNL QF2)
Ukraine
Iceland
Azerbaijan
Group E
Winner Spain-Netherlands (UNL QF1)
Turkey
Georgia
Bulgaria
Group F
Winner Portugal-Denmark (UNL QF3)
Hungary
Republic of Ireland
Armenia
Group G
Defeated team Spain-Netherlands (UNL QF1)
Poland
Finland
Lithuania
Malta
Group H
Austria
Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cyprus
San Marino
Group I
Defeated team Germany-Italy (UNL QF4)
Norway
Israel
Estonia
Moldova
Group J
Belgium
Wales
North Macedonia
Kazakhstan
Liechtenstein
Group K
England
Serbia
Albania
Latvia
Andorra
Group L
Defeated team France-Croatia (UNL QF2)
Czechia
Montenegro
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Source: TVP World
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