The competitions of the Ukraine national football team in 2026
The Ukraine national football team will start 2026 in February with the draw of the Nations League and will play in the World Cup qualifying playoff in March. The draw for the group stage of the Nations League 2026/2027 will take place on February 12, 2026, in Brussels. Ukraine will compete in League B, and the group tournament is scheduled to start on September 24-26, 2026.
World Cup 2026 Qualifying Playoff
In March 2026, the Ukraine national team will participate in the World Cup 2026 qualifying playoff. The semifinal playoff will take place on March 26, 2026, in Valencia, where the Ukrainian team will face the national team of Sweden. If successful in the semifinal, the final playoff will take place on March 31, 2026.
Additionally, in June 2026, Ukraine will play three matches:
- June 15 — against Tunisia in Monterrey
- June 20 — against the Netherlands in Houston
- June 26 — against Japan in Dallas
The qualifying for Euro 2028 will begin in March 2027, and the draw of its qualifying tournament will take place on December 6, 2025, in Belfast.
Team composition and pots
In the Nations League, Ukraine was placed in the second pot, which also includes Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austria. In the first pot are the teams of Scotland, Hungary, Poland, and Israel, in the third — Slovenia, Georgia, Ireland, and Romania, and in the fourth — Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, and Kosovo. The group tournament will consist of six rounds to be held from September to November 2026.
Thus, at the beginning of 2026, the Ukraine national team will have a busy competition schedule, including important matches in the Nations League and the World Cup qualifying playoff. Success at these stages of qualification can significantly impact the team's future prospects on the international stage and enhance its ranking in world football. It is crucial for Ukraine to demonstrate competitiveness to secure a place in major tournaments in the future.