Malta’s national football team has been drawn into a demanding Group G for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, facing a formidable lineup of European footballing nations at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Friday.
The group presents a particularly challenging prospect for the Maltese side, with Spain or the Netherlands—whichever loses their UEFA Nations League quarter-final—set to be the group’s top seed. Alongside these footballing powerhouses, Malta will also compete against Poland, Finland, and Lithuania.
The draw offers little respite for Malta, with each opponent presenting significant challenges. Poland, led by prolific striker Robert Lewandowski, will be targeting at least a second-place finish to secure a potential World Cup play-off spot. Finland, who narrowly missed qualification for Euro 2024 after losing to Wales in the play-offs, are expected to be competitive.
Lithuania may represent Malta’s best opportunity for points, having struggled in the recent UEFA Nations League, where they were relegated to League D after losing all their matches in League C.
While the on-field challenges are clear, the team faces additional uncertainty off the pitch. The Malta Football Association is currently in the process of establishing a new technical setup, with the contracts of interim coaches Davide Mazzotta and Ernesto Chevanton having concluded in November.
The association has indicated that a strategic review is underway, with a formal announcement about the new coaching setup expected in the first week of January. As the Malta FA stated, they are taking time to “evaluate all options for the future” and establish a new organisational structure for the team’s technical management.
The World Cup qualifiers will be played across five international breaks between March and November 2025. The top team from each of the 12 groups will qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with runners-up entering a play-off competition.
A total of 16 European teams will ultimately secure qualification for the tournament, which is set to be the first 48-team World Cup, running from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
How will qualification work?
Other major European footballing nations also received intriguing draws. England, under new head coach Thomas Tuchel, will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra—a group that appears relatively straightforward for the Three Lions.
Wales will meet Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein, while Scotland will play Greece, Belarus, and the loser of the Portugal v Denmark Nations League quarter-final. Northern Ireland face Slovakia, Luxembourg, and the winner of the Germany v Italy Nations League game.
The World Cup qualifying format is complex, designed to ensure competitive balance and opportunity. Six groups will contain four teams, while six groups will have five teams. Teams will play each other home and away, with the top team from each group qualifying automatically for the World Cup.
Runners-up will enter a play-off competition involving four additional Nations League teams. These 16 play-off teams will be divided into four paths, with single-leg semi-finals and finals determining the final European qualifiers. The tournament will culminate in a unique 48-team World Cup, expanding from the traditional 32-team format, with matches spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
Full World Cup qualifying draw
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser), Greece, Scotland, Belarus
Group D: France/Croatia (winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: France/Croatia (loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
