Hodgson and Co will have the safety net of knowing they would avoid the likes of France, Croatia and Portugal.
Check in to England vs Montenegro
FIFA have confirmed that England will be seeded if they are forced to qualify for next summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil via the playoffs next month, according to reports in the Daily Mail.
Roy Hodgson’s side still have two crucial World Cup qualifiers to play in Group H before the final standings are decided, with the Three Lions hosting Montenegro on Friday followed by Poland next Tuesday, with both internationals to be staged at Wembley Stadium.
And going into the double header, England currently lead their group, albeit by just a single point from second-placed Ukraine and third-in-the-table Montenegro, meaning that two wins from their final two qualifiers will see Hodgson and Co qualify automatically for next summer’s global show-piece event in South America.
However, anything less than the full six points though could result in England facing the daunting prospect of facing a two-legged playoff next month against another runner-up from the European qualifying section.
However, much to Hodgson’s relief, FIFA have now confirmed that when the draw takes place to decide the four play-off ties at the governing body’s HQ in Zurich on Oct 21, the eight runners-up will be seeded, with the four highest-ranked nations according to the world rankings on Oct 17 being kept apart from each other.