Roma's Europa League Plans and Artem Dovbyk's Injury
AS Roma is set to replace the injured striker Artem Dovbyk in its squad for the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League knockout stages. Dovbyk sustained his injury in January and is not expected to return to the pitch before April 2026. This development could significantly impact the Ukrainian national team, as Dovbyk is likely to miss crucial matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs. The timing is particularly unfortunate as Ukraine enters a decisive phase in its quest to reach the global tournament.
UEFA regulations allow clubs to make up to three changes to their European squad lists after the winter transfer window. The 28-year-old Dovbyk had managed to score 3 goals and provide 2 assists in 17 appearances for Roma during the 2025/26 season before his injury. His contract with the Italian club runs until the end of June 2029. Roma finished the Europa League group stage in eighth place, thereby bypassing the initial knockout round.
Challenges Ahead for the Ukrainian National Team
The draw for the next Europa League round is scheduled for February 27, 2026. Concurrently, the Ukrainian national team will be preparing for its World Cup qualification playoff semi-final against Sweden on March 26, 2026. Should Ukraine advance, the final playoff match could see them face the winner of the Poland vs. Albania tie. Success in these matches is the only remaining path for Ukraine to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across three North American nations.
Ukraine recently secured an important 5-3 victory over Iceland in Warsaw. The two teams were level on points before the match, but two second-half goals sealed the win for Ukraine. These results underscore the high stakes of the upcoming fixtures. Dovbyk's absence creates a major challenge for both Roma and the national team, potentially affecting their attacking prowess in European competition and the critical World Cup qualifiers. Roma's need to adjust their squad strategy could have ripple effects on the player's readiness for the national team's pivotal matches in the coming months.