Defeated in the duel between France - Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Faroe Islands and Gibraltar, they are Montenegro's rivals in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, it was decided at the draw in Zurich.
Robert Prosinecki's selection is placed in the last group, group L, which has five teams, which means that the qualifications will most likely start in March next year.
In March, it will be known who will be the rival from the A hat: France and Croatia will play a quarter-final match of the League of Nations, and the loser will go to Montenegro.
Our national team has never played against France or Croatia in history.
The rival from the other hat is an old acquaintance, the Czech Republic, with whom Montenegro played five times - and lost all five. We remember the play-off matches for the 2012 EP (the Czechs won 2:0 in Prague, 1:0 in Podgorica), then the qualification for the 2020 EP, where the Czech Republic won both times with 3:0, and two years ago they lost in a friendly match we are under Gorica 4:1.
For the first time in history, Montenegro is going to the Faroe Islands, while Gibraltar was already a rival in the qualifiers for WC 2022. The Falcons won both matches, 4:1 away, 3:0 at home.
The winners of the 12 groups go directly to the World Cup, the runners-up will play in the play-offs together with the four teams that won that right through the League of Nations.
Group A: Italy/Germany (winner), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (defeated), 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 (defeated), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, BiH, Cyprus, San Marino
Group I: Italy/Germany (defeated), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
Group J: Belgium, Wales, S. Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: France/Croatia (lost), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
Bonus video:
