Ukraine's Squad for the 2026 World Cup Qualification Playoffs
Ukraine's national team head coach, Serhiy Rebrov, has named his squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification playoffs. The 26-man roster includes 14 players from the Ukrainian Premier League and 12 who play for clubs abroad. Notably, three players have received their first senior call-ups: Ruslan Neshcheret and Matviy Ponomarenko from Dynamo Kyiv, and Borys Krushynskyi from Polissya Zhytomyr. This selection comes at a critical juncture as Ukraine seeks to qualify for its first World Cup since the 2022 invasion.
Full Player Roster
The squad is comprised of the following players:
- Goalkeepers: Anatoliy Trubin (Benfica), Dmytro Riznyk (Shakhtar), Ruslan Neshcheret (Dynamo)
- Defenders: Illia Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain), Oleksandr Svatok (Austin), Valeriy Bondar (Shakhtar), Yukhym Konoplia (Shakhtar), Maksym Talovierov (Stoke City), Vitaliy Mykolenko (Everton), Oleksandr Tymchyk (Dynamo), Bohdan Mykhaylychenko (Polissya), Borys Krushynskyi (Polissya)
- Midfielders: Yehor Yarmolyuk (Brentford), Ivan Kalyuzhnyi (Metalist 1925), Oleh Ocheretko (Shakhtar), Heorhiy Sudakov (Benfica), Ruslan Malinovskyi (Genoa), Mykola Shaparenko (Dynamo), Oleksandr Pikhalyonok (Dynamo), Nazar Voloshyn (Dynamo), Oleksiy Gutsulyak (Polissya), Viktor Tsygankov (Girona), Oleksandr Zubkov (Trabzonspor)
- Forwards: Vladyslav Vanat (Girona), Roman Yaremchuk (Lyon), Matviy Ponomarenko (Dynamo)
An additional nine players have been placed on a reserve list.
The playoff semi-final is scheduled for March 26 in Valencia, Spain, where Ukraine will face Sweden. The final will be played on March 31, with the winner of the Poland vs. Albania match awaiting the victor. The ultimate winner of this playoff path will secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Looking further ahead, Ukraine will begin its 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign with an away match against Hungary on September 25. The team has been drawn into League B, Group 2, alongside Hungary, Georgia, and Northern Ireland, with the group winner earning promotion to League A.
These playoffs are of immense importance for the Ukrainian national team. Success in these matches could open the door to World Cup participation, which represents a crucial stage for the development of football in our country.
Serhiy Rebrov, Head Coach of the Ukrainian National Team
Preparations for these decisive fixtures are underway, with the coaching staff emphasizing the integration of young talent, a strategy that could positively shape the team's future trajectory.
As Ukraine gears up for this crucial playoff semi-final against Sweden, it's essential to understand the strategic preparations being implemented by head coach Serhiy Rebrov. His recent strategy meeting with the coaching staff outlines the team's approach and tactics for the upcoming match. For a deeper insight into how the national team is preparing, read more about Rebrov's strategies here.