World Cup Playoffs 2026: Ukraine-Sweden, likely lineups

Ukraine and Sweden take the field at 8:45 p.m. for the playoff match for the 2026 World Cup.The match will take place at the neutral field of Stadio Ciutat de Valencia. Whoever wins this match will face one of Poland or Albania for a place in the June rainbow review in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Ukraine, which arrived at the playoffs as second in Group C, must do without three important players such as Zinchenko, Dovbyk and Matvienko. In attack will be Zubkov, Yaremchuk and Tsygankov, in midfield space for Malinovskyi, Shaparenko, Sudakov.

The Scandinavians, in the playoffs thanks to Nations League results, are coming off a forgettable qualifying group that saw them finish in last place. They will be missing a key attacking player like Isak: in his place will be Lidberg and Nygren. On the flanks Elanga and Forsberg, in the middle there will be room for Karlstrom and Svanberg.

Ukraine-Sweden, the likely lineups
UKRAINE (4-3-3): Trubin; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Svatok, Mykolenko; Malinovskyi, Shaparenko, Sudakov; Tsygankov, Yaremchuk, Zubkov. All. Rebrov.
SWEDEN (4-4-2): Johansson; Holm, Lindelöf, Hien, Gudmundsson; Elanga, Karlström, Svanberg, Forsberg; Lidberg, Nygren. All. Tomasson.