England-Scotland dates set
Both matches are sure to be eagerly-awaited and the Wembley clash will get underway at 7.45pm, while the Hampden Park encounter has been given a 5pm kick-off time.
England will begin their Group F campaign with what shapes up as one of their tougher matches, away against Slovakia, with a home match against Malta and a trip to Slovenia to follow, before their first game against the Scots.
They conclude their campaign away to Lithuania on October 8, 2017 while Scotland round off their fixtures in Slovenia on the same evening.
Scotland’s first qualifier will be away against Malta on 4 September before they host Lithuania on 8 October.
England manager Roy Hodgson said: “The Scotland fixture stands out as it’s the oldest rivalry among football nations and, if the friendlies are anything to judge by, they will be very exciting games, and very tense and intense. The atmosphere will be unbelievable.
“If anyone wants to see what a really fanatic football atmosphere is like I would invite them to Wembley when we play Scotland or to the match up there, and they will see what passionate football support is all about.”
England World Cup qualifiers:
Slovakia (a) September 4, 2016
Malta (h) October 8
Slovenia (a) October 11
Scotland (h) November 11
Lithuania (h) March 26, 2017
Scotland (a) June 10
Malta (a) September 1
Slovakia (h) September 4
Slovenia (h) October 5
Lithuania (a) October 8
Scotland World Cup qualifiers:
Malta (a) September 4, 2016
Lithuania (h) October 8
Slovakia (a) October 11
England (a) November 11
Slovenia (h) March 26, 2017
England (h) June 10
Lithuania (a) September 1
Malta (h) September 4
Slovakia (h) October 5
Slovenia (a) October 8