UEFA World Cup 2018 Qualifying Groups

UEFA drew its groups for 2018 World Cup Qualifying. Russia, as host, qualifies automatically. All nine group winners qualify. The top eight second place finishers play off for UEFA’s additional four places.

Here are the groups.

Group A: Netherlands, France, Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus, Luxembourg
Group B: Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Andorra
Group C: Germany, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan, San Marino
Group D: Wales, Austria, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Moldova, Georgia
Group E: Romania, Denmark, Poland, Montenegro, Armenia, Kazakhstan
Group F: England, Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania, Malta
Group G: Spain, Italy, Albania, Israel, FYR Macedonia, Liechtenstein
Group H: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus
Group I: Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland

Spain and Italy are paired together in Group G, meaning one must qualify through the playoff. Group A may prove the most interesting. One of Netherlands, France, and Sweden will miss the tournament. Group D, without a major power, could prove an opportunity for Wales. Could Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey bring the Welsh to their first World Cup since 1958?

[Getty]