Tomorrow, September 5, the Ukraine national football team is preparing to begin the European qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The first match will take place against France at the 'Tarczyński Arena' in Wrocław at 21:45 Kyiv time.
Group and tournament format
The Ukraine national team is in Group D along with France, Iceland, and Azerbaijan. The group winner qualifies automatically for the World Cup, while the second team will play playoff matches in March 2026.
Team lineup and absences
The Ukraine team is missing Lunin and Mykolenko due to injuries, as well as Mudryk due to doping and Tymchyk. France is missing Saliba due to injury.
France has only lost to Ukraine once out of 12 matches – 0:2 in the first playoff match of the 2014 World Cup qualification, but resolved the issue in the corresponding match, winning 3:0.
Where to watch the match
The broadcast of the Ukraine vs. France match will be available on MEGOGO in Ukraine, TF1 in France, and TVP Sport in Poland.
Predictions and lineups
France is considered the favorite in the match, and the team lineups are already known.
Historical perspective
This match marks the beginning of the journey to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. For Ukraine, it is an opportunity to return to the world stage, and for France, it is a chance to reaffirm their ambitions.
Summary:
The Ukraine national football team is preparing for the match against France in the 2026 World Cup qualification. Both teams have their advantages and absences, but the competition promises to be tense and interesting. This match is just the beginning of the teams' journey to the major tournament that will take place in a few years in North America.