UEFA has determined the venues for the qualifying matches of the Ukrainian national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
This is reported by Kyiv24
All Home Matches to Be Played in Poland Due to Security Situation
The Ukrainian national team will play all six of its home qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup on Polish territory. This decision has been made due to the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and the current security requirements of UEFA, which prohibit matches from being held in Ukrainian stadiums. Similarly, Ukrainian clubs in European competitions are also forced to play their home matches abroad.
Match Schedule: Wrocław, Kraków, and Warsaw
The qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup for the Ukrainian national team will kick off on September 5 with a match against France, which will take place in Wrocław. The second encounter with the French team is also scheduled for Wrocław and will be held on November 13.
Two matches against the Azerbaijan national team will be held in Kraków — on September 9 and October 13. Another two matches against the Icelandic team will take place in Warsaw: on October 10 and November 16.
“Ukraine is forced to play home matches outside the country due to the Russian invasion and UEFA’s security rules, which make it impossible to hold games on our territory. Thus, both the national team and clubs participating in European competitions are playing their home matches in other countries.”
It is worth noting that for the first time, the nominal home match for the Ukrainian national team will be played in Warsaw. Previously, in the Polish capital, the “blue and yellow” team only played as guests, including in the qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup against Poland, which ended with a victory for Ukraine, 3:1.