In charge: Thomas Tuchel
AP
The Three Lions have been drawn into a five-team group, meaning their qualification period begins in March or June rather than September.
That means there may well not be a bedding-in period for incoming new manager Tuchel, whose first games in charge could be World Cup qualifiers.
Tuchel officially takes over as head coach on January 1 and will be pleased with his first opponents in the role as the road to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico begins.
Elsewhere, Scotland are in a four-team group against the losers of the Nations League quarter-final tie between Portugal and Denmark, Greece and Belarus. Wales face a daunting double-header against Belgium but otherwise face North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein.
Republic of Ireland will face with winner between Portugal and Denmark, along with Hungary and Armenia while Northern Ireland take on the winner between Germany and Italy, and Slovakia and …