Ukraine Falls to Sweden in Playoff, Ending 2026 World Cup Hopes

Oleksandr Karavayev Makes Move to Shakhtar Donetsk

According to Главком: Defender Oleksandr Karavayev, aged 34, has joined Shakhtar Donetsk as a free agent. His contract with the club runs through June 30, 2028. Karavayev began his career at Shakhtar’s academy, playing for their youth and reserve teams as well as Shakhtar-3 from 2005 to 2011.

Throughout his career, Karavayev has spent time on loan at several clubs, including:

• Sevastopol from 2012 to 2014
• Zorya from 2014 to 2016
• Fenerbahçe in 2017

After that, he returned to Zorya in summer 2017, and from 2019 to 2026 played for Kyiv’s Dynamo. Over his entire club career, Oleksandr has made 455 official appearances, scoring 57 goals and providing 65 assists.

Karavayev’s Role with the Ukrainian National Team

A member of the Ukrainian national team since October 2015, Karavayev has earned 50 caps, scoring 3 goals and recording 13 assists. With the national squad, he has achieved significant success, becoming a two-time Ukrainian champion (2021, 2025), a three-time Ukrainian Cup winner (2020, 2021, 2026), and a two-time Ukrainian Super Cup champion (2019, 2020).

Amid Karavayev’s transfer, Ukraine’s national team lost 1–3 to Sweden in the semifinal playoff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ponomarenko scored Ukraine’s only goal in the 90+1 minute, while Sweden’s Gyökeres netted three times-in the 6th, 51st, and 72nd minutes. All participants for the upcoming World Cup have been determined, with the groups set as follows:

• Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic.
• Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland.
• Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.
• Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey.
• Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador.
• Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia.
• Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.
• Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
• Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway.
• Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.
• Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia.
• Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.

The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, will advance to the Round of 32.

Karavayev’s move to Shakhtar marks a full-circle return to the club where his career began. This transfer also comes on the heels of Ukraine’s disappointing playoff defeat, which casts doubt on their chances of competing in the upcoming tournament. His involvement with his new club could prove pivotal for his career, as he has the potential to influence Shakhtar’s performance in both domestic and international competitions.

As Ukraine faces the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 World Cup, the recent move of Oleksandr Karavayev back to Shakhtar Donetsk adds another layer to the ongoing narrative of Ukrainian football. His decision to leave Dynamo Kyiv, where he enjoyed a successful tenure, highlights the shifting dynamics within the league. For more insights on Karavayev's career shift and its implications, read our detailed coverage on his return to Shakhtar.