Having done what they needed to do by taking six points from the games against Malta and Slovakia, Gareth Southgate's side need just two more on the board to ensure top spot in Group F.
The final qualification matches are against Slovenia at Wembley on Thursday 5 October, when England's place could be sealed even without a victory if Slovakia fail to win at Hampden Park, and away in Lithuania on Sunday 8 October.
Then comes the final key date of 2017, the draw for the World Cup itself.
That takes place in the imposing setting of the Kremlin on 1 December when the pomp and ceremony (and confusion) of the draw for the 2018 tournament takes place.
Southgate, the FA and England supporters who are travelling to Russia can then begin to plan their summer which for the manager will mean testing his team against some of the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy in some high-profile friendlies.
A recent article in the Guardian suggests that will mean Germany and Brazil coming to Wembley in November and Italy visiting in March.