Excitement levels across the globe are at fever pitch ahead of the World Cup finals next month. The first-ever winter edition of the tournament will take place in Qatar - less than 18 months after Euro 2020.
It barely seems a moment ago since England suffered home-soil heartache and lost the Wembley Stadium final to Italy on penalties. An unprecedented winter World Cup means there is a shortened gap between international tournaments in the coming years.
After this year’s finals, attention will turn to the 2024 Euros as the Three Lions aim to avenge their shoot-out defeat. Germany will host the competition, having done so while still partitioned as West Germany in 1998.
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The nation did host the 2006 World Cup, made memorable by Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt, Cristiano Ronaldo’s cheeky wink and Graham Poll awarding Croatia’s Josip Simunic three yellow cards!
Manchester Evening News have profiled everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming qualifying draw…
When does the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying draw take place?
The draw will take place on October 9 - this Sunday - in Frankfurt. Fans can expect the ceremony to begin at around 11am GMT but, as is usually the case, proceedings can be long-winded and it could take around an hour to conclude the draw.
How are the pots decided?
Countries are placed into seven pots depending on where they finished in their Nations League groups. The top-four ranked countries (Netherlands, Croatia, Spain, Italy) are placed in Pot UNL (UEFA Nations League).
A further six nations (Switzerland, Poland, Belgium, Portugal, Hungary and Denmark) make up Pot 1. After that, each pot consists of 10 different teams, with one country picked from each pot to form a group.
The only exception to this is Pot 6, which includes San Marino, Andorra and Liechtenstein - the three lowest-ranked countries.
What pot are England in?
Despite being fifth in the FIFA rankings, the Three Lions had an underwhelming Nations League campaign - affecting which pot they are in. Relegation from the upper tier of the Nations League forced England into Pot 2.
However, there is some respite for Harry Kane & Co as several potential banana skins share a pot with England. France are the standout big-hitters but British rivals Scotland and Wales also feature in Pot 2 - meaning they cannot be drawn against each other.
Any exemptions?
As hosts, Germany are exempt from qualification and will play friendly matches leading up to the tournament. The ongoing invasion of Ukraine caused UEFA to ban Russia from all competition so they, too, will not take part.
Few football fans realise that winter exemption rules are also adhered to when deciding the draw. For example, only two of Belarus, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway can be in the same group to prevent cancellations.
Temperatures plunge well below zero in these nations during the winter, with bad weather potentially affecting travel. Political discourse also blocks certain international fixtures from taking place.
Spain are forbidden from playing against Gibraltar, while Kosovo cannot face Bosnia-Herzegovina or Serbia.
How many countries will qualify?
There will be 24 countries vying for the coveted Henri Delaunay Trophy. The figure was raised to its current number for the 2016 finals in France.
Interestingly, England - alongside Germany - were one of the only countries to object to the expansion over a decade ago.
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