Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Friday, 05 December 2025 22:07 / Updated Friday, 05 December 2025 22:08
Răzvan Burleanu, president of the Romanian Football Federation, attended the draw for the World Championship groups from 2026. If it passes the barrier in March, Romania would enter group D, along with the USA, Paraguay and Australia.
The representatives of the Romanian national football team were also watching the draw, considering that the “tricolors” have a chance of qualifying for the final tournament.
Răzvan Burleanu, as president of the FRF and a member of the FIFA Council, “the main decision-making body of the organization”, was present in the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, the complex that hosted the draw.
From Washington, Răzvan Burleanu commented on the draw: “It motivates us enormously”
From there, in the heat, the FRF president sent a reaction about what would await the “tricolors”, in the event that they win their play-off matches.
“It's a draw that both motivates and challenges us enormously. We want to qualify for the final tournament, to write a new chapter in the history of Romanian football and to proudly represent Romania at the most complex edition of the World Cup so far”, are Burleanu's words.
FRF also reported that “the selector Mircea Lucescu was not present at the draw due to the fact that he has two hip operationsand the road to Washington DC would have been a long and difficult one”.
In order for Romania to be represented at the final tournament, the national team prepared by Mircea Lucescu will have to overcome Turkey (March 26), then the winner between Slovakia and Kosovo. The “Tricolori” would play both matches away.
2026 World Cup groups:
