Episode 74: FIFA 2026 World Cup Draw with special guest Ibrahim Tanko (BVB 1994-00)

Thank you for your interest in the BVB London fan community podcast. Each episode of the show is about discovering a facet of Borussia Dortmund's life in conversation with experts and former participants in club life such as players, fans, coaches or even journalists who have influenced this club in its development.

Our guest today is Ibrahim Tanko. Ibrahim is the coach of the Ghana U23s and in his own right a former striker who gained 7 national caps and played for BVB from 1994-00 and SC Freiburg from 2001-7. 

Ibrahim between 2010-2012 was assistant manager of Urawa Red Diamonds, in season 2012-2013 he became assistant manager at 1. FC Cologne. Between 2013-2015 he was assistant manager of the Cameroon national team.

The focus of the show is the FIFA World Cup qualifying draw which took place on Friday.

England, under new head coach Thomas Tuchel (BVB 15-17), will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.

Dependent of the outcome of the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal v Italy, Germany will  join Northern Ireland, Slovakia, and Luxembourg or group I.

Wales will meet Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein.

Scotland will play Greece, Belarus and the loser of the Portugal v Denmark Nations League quarter-final. The remaining groups of the UEFA association are:

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

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 (loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.

Group I: Germany/Italy (loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.

Group L: France/Croatia (loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.

Ibrahim Tanko's Ghana will play against Mali, Comoros, and Madagascar.

The qualifying games will be played across five international breaks between March and November 2025.

Those international breaks are 21-25 March, 6-10 June, 4-9 September, 9-14 October and 13-18 November.

The top team from each of the 12 groups will qualify automatically for the World Cup, which will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.

The sixteen host cities are Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Guadalajara, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Monterrey, Mexico City, Toronto, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Miami.

The second-placed teams go into play-offs. A total of 16 European teams will qualify.

The World Cup will start on 11 June 2026 in Mexico City and end on 19 July at the 82,500 capacity Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey.

The expanded 48-team tournament will last a record 39 days.

The new format will feature 12 four-team groups and a last-32 knockout round for the first time.

1. Introduction to our guest Ibrahim Tanko, and co-host Rimmel Daniel (5-times Grenada international defender, formerly of Gillingham, Grays Athletic). 

2. A look at the new tournament format and venues and the three hosting nations.   

4. A focus on the home nations of UK, Germany qualifying groups, who are the toughest opponents and those most likely to qualify? 

5.A look at the 2030 World Cup in Portugal, Spain, Morocco and announcement of the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia which was uncontested. 

6.  A look Ibrahim's work with Otto Addo and the Ghana football federation and U23 team and Ghana's Afcon exit and World Cup qualifying ahead. What is the Otto Addo factor? 

7. Ibrahim's memories of Westfalenstadion between 1994-2001 including team mates and match highlights. 

8. SC Freiburg experiences and current situation including new stadium. 

09. Views on BVB now under Nuri Sahin, how do they look? How far can they go? What areas need to improve? 

10. Is BVB, Bundesliga popular in Africa and Ghana? A look at the BVB legends games Ibrahim played in including in Ghana this year.  

11. A look at the 50th anniversary which is on Sunday this week, the 22 December, of the first black player for Germany Erwin Kostedde and what the former BVB striker's legacy remains for the Bundesliga. 

12. Social media

Correction: The 19 December is of course the 115th birthday of BVB - happy birthday Borussia! 

We hope you enjoy the show. Send us your comments, share the show with friends and don't forget to like it. If you want to contact the fan club, you can do so via the website borussiadortmundlondon.co.uk or in the online group at Facebook.com/borussiadortmundfanclubengland .
 
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