UEFA’s Emergency Panel has decided that Kosovo will join Croatia, Finland, Iceland, Turkey and Ukraine in Group I, and that Gibraltar will join Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Estonia and Greece in Group H.

European football's governing body ruled that Kosovo should be kept apart from Bosnia and Serbia, from which it gained independence in 2008, owing to security reasons in competitive matches.

The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) objected to the admittance of Kosovo at last month’s FIFA Congress in Mexico City, but the nation still managed an 86 per cent majority with 141 votes cast in their favour and 23 against.

The acceptance of Kosovo came after they also became a member of UEFA at the body's Congress in Budapest on May 3, a decision which has led to the FSS launching an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Last week, Kosovo beat Faroe Islands 2-0 in their first fully-recognised international.

"Kosovo's boys have the opportunity to show their skills in front of the strong teams of Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Turkey and Finland," said Kosovo's Prime Minister Isa Mustafa on his Facebook page.

"Together towards the World Cup 2018.

"Together we will work to have good infrastructure and train our national team."

A key issue for Kosovo surrounds the eligibility of players who could potentially represent the nation as the country’s complicated political status has seen several players born in the state play for different countries.

These include Xherdan Shaqiri and Valon Behrami, both of whom represent Switzerland, as well as Finland’s Shefki Kuqi and Albania’s Lorik Cana.

FIFA rules do not allow players to change allegiance, however, there have been rumours that it could make an exception for Kosovo.

Gibraltar's application was overwhelmingly backed by the FIFA Congress, with 172 Member Associations voting for their admission.

They have also been engulfed in an ongoing battle for recognition but were handed a boost when the CAS ordered FIFA to take "all necessary measures" to accept Gibraltar "without delay" at the start of last month.

The British overseas territory, located at the tip of the Iberian peninsula, had been trying to join FIFA and European governing body UEFA for nearly 20 years.

A CAS decision in 2013 saw them become a member of UEFA and their national side went on to play in qualifying for the 2016 European Championships in France, a tournament which begins today. 

The inclusion of Kosovo and Gibraltar means that European qualifying for the 2018 World Cup will consist of nine groups of six teams, as opposed to seven of six and two of five.

The nine group winners qualify directly, while the eight best runners-up will take part in two-legged play-offs to determine four more qualifiers.

Russia have qualified automatically as hosts.