• France will still qualify automatically • Their group matches will serve as friendlies

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

England could face the tournament hosts, France, in their Euro 2016 qualifying group under a radical rule change from Uefa.

France will be the first host nation to take part in a European Championship qualification phase. Les Bleus will retain automatic tournament qualification, with their group-stage contests serving as friendlies where no points will be awarded.

The regulation shift means France will be added to the group-stage draw, creating nine pools of six teams. Previous competitions have had eight pools of six teams and one comprising five.

Uefa will confirm the six seeding pots on Fridayin Nyon, Switzerland, after their two-day executive committee meeting. ahead of the pool-stage draw in Nice on 23 February.

The new rule is outlined in Euro 2016 regulation article 21.02, which reads: "The teams drawn into the group of five teams will have France added to their group for the purpose of playing centralised friendlies."

England could a face star-studded Belgium, Martin O'Neill's Republic of Ireland or even familiar opponents such as Croatia or Sweden, should they fall into top-tier Pot One as expected.

The pool stage draw will be made in Nice on 23 February.

Roy Hodgson's team should be named among the top seeds courtesy of their unbeaten record in securing automatic qualification for the 2014 World Cup.

Croatia, who blocked England's qualification to Euro 2008, could face England again, if they end up in Pot Two as expected.

Home and away qualifying ties against Ireland would be bound to stir a few souls.

Ireland would certainly relish an opportunity at a scalp as they seek to capitalise on the good feeling generated by their new taskmaster management duo, O'Neill and Roy Keane.

England though, could be forgiven for being more concerned about the prospect of facing Belgium. Chelsea's Everton loanee Romelu Lukaku and the Stamford Bridge playmaker Eden Hazard are just two of an increasingly accomplished squad for the Belgians, led by the Manchester City talisman Vincent Kompany.

Gibraltar, accepted as a separate Uefa member state after winning a court of arbitration in sport ruling, will be among the countries in the draw for the first time.

It is understood Uefa will aim to keep Gibraltar and Spain apart in the qualifying draw, the fixture among those the governing body is aiming to avoid due to political sensitivity.