England travel to Belgrade on Tuesday looking to extend their perfect start to 2026 World Cup qualifying, but a dangerous Serbia side stands in their way. The Three Lions top Group K with 12 points from four matches, while Serbia sit second on seven points with a game in hand. Victory for the hosts would cut the gap to just two points and blow the group wide open.
Current Standings
- England: 12 points (1st place, four wins from four, zero goals conceded)
- Serbia: 7 points (2nd place, unbeaten in three, one game fewer played)
Form Guide
- Serbia: Drew their opener with Albania before beating Andorra and Latvia. Solid defensively with four goals scored and none conceded. Aleksandar Mitrovic is expected to return to the starting XI alongside Dusan Vlahovic, offering a potent strike partnership.
- England: Four wins from four, but performances haven’t been convincing. They edged past Andorra 2-0 last time out, relying on a Declan Rice strike and an own goal. Thomas Tuchel’s side remain perfect defensively, but questions remain over their attack against stronger opposition.
Head-to-Head
- The only previous meeting between the sides came at Euro 2024, where England won 1-0 thanks to Jude Bellingham.
- Serbia are unbeaten in their last six home matches across all competitions.
- England have failed to score more than twice in any of their last five away games.
Betting Angles
Both Teams to Score – Yes
Serbia’s strike duo of Mitrovic and Vlahovic will test England’s back line. England usually find a way to score, but Serbia’s attack is strong enough to land a blow at home.
Under 2.5 Goals
Despite the talent on show, both sides are built on defensive solidity. England have yet to concede in qualifying, while Serbia haven’t shipped a goal in this campaign. Goals are likely to be scarce.
Correct Score: 1-1 Draw
The most balanced outcome. Serbia’s home advantage combined with England’s resilience makes a stalemate a strong possibility.