The mini-tournament will be played in Malta between April 4 and 9. Lithuania will be hosting the other group which includes Georgia, Faroe Islands and Montenegro. Albania and Montenegro will be making their competitive debut in these mini-tournaments.
The top two in each group will progress to the qualifying group stage and join the 38 top-ranked nations.
Seven groups of six teams will be drawn on 16 April, to be played on a home-and-away basis from 20/21 September 2013 to 17 September 2014.
The seven group winners qualify for the finals. The four runners-up with the best record against the sides first, third, fourth and fifth in their groups go into two rounds of knockout play-offs.
In view of this mini-tournament, Malta will be playing a friendly match away from home against Cyprus on January 12.