They are headed by defending champions Spain, who are joined in pot one by Germany, Netherlands, Italy, England, Portugal, Greece, Russia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

France has automatically qualified for the competition as hosts.

Fifty-three teams have been allocated to six pots according to UEFA's coefficient system.

The second pot contains Ukraine, Croatia, Sweden, Denmark Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary and Republic of Ireland.

The draw on February 23 in Nice will establish nine groups - eight groups of six teams and one of five teams.

Fifty-three countries will be in the qualifying draw on February 23 for Euro 2016 ©Getty Images



Euro 2016 will be the first to feature 24 teams in an expanded format.

The qualifying competition is due to run from September this year to October 2015, while Euro 2016 itself will kick-off on June 10 and end on July 10 2016.

Of the other qualifying pots, pot three contains Serbia, Turkey, Slovenia, Israel, Norway, Slovakia, Romania, Austria and Poland.

Pot four features Montenegro, Armenia, Scotland, Finland, Latvia, Wales, Bulgaria, Estonia and Belarus.

In pot five is Iceland, Northern Ireland, Albania, Lithuania, Moldova, FYR Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Cyprus.

The final pot, pot six, contains Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Faroe Islands, Malta, Andorra, San Marina and debutants Gibraltar.