Ukraine vs Sweden: match report
Thursday, March 26, 2026
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Ukraine hosted Sweden in the semi-final match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers
Shakhtar centre-back Valerii Bondar started in the line-up for the Blue-and-Yellows. Two more Shakhtar players – Dmytro Riznyk and Oleh Ocheretko – remained on the bench. Yukhym Konoplia missed the match due to suspension.
The start of the game proved unsuccessful for Ukraine: as early as the 6th minute, the visitors opened the scoring – Gyökeres applied the finish after Nygren’s cross from the edge of the goal area. After conceding, Serhii Rebrov’s side took control of the ball, but they rarely created clear chances near the Swedish goal. However, the Blue-and-Yellows could have equalised in one moment when, following Mykolenko’s cross and a deflection off the visitors’ defender, the ball travelled across the goal line, but there was no one to turn it into the net. The Scandinavians also had another chance – after a shot from Gudmundsson, the ball brushed the right post and went out of play.
The second half began with an exchange of chances: Anatolii Trubin reacted to a shot from Starfelt, while at the other end, Oleksandr Zubkov struck first time from the centre of the penalty area – straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. Nevertheless, it was the Swedes who scored again: in the 51st minute, Gyökeres received a pass from deep and found the right corner from the edge of the box. In the 60th minute, the Ukraine coaching staff made a triple substitution, and among others, Shakhtar midfielder Oleh Ocheretko came on. The nominal hosts continued to push forward with almost the entire team: Tsyhankov had a chance to reduce the deficit, but his close-range effort was saved by the goalkeeper. And in the 72nd minute, the contest was effectively decided: Gyökeres won a penalty and converted it himself to complete a hat-trick. In the remaining time, the Blue-and Yellows-managed to score a consolation goal – in the 90th minute, debutant Ponomarenko headed in from the goal area. 1-3 – Ukraine lost to Sweden and ended their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
On March 31, the Blue-and-Yellows will play a friendly against Albania in Valencia.
The start of the game proved unsuccessful for Ukraine: as early as the 6th minute, the visitors opened the scoring – Gyökeres applied the finish after Nygren’s cross from the edge of the goal area. After conceding, Serhii Rebrov’s side took control of the ball, but they rarely created clear chances near the Swedish goal. However, the Blue-and-Yellows could have equalised in one moment when, following Mykolenko’s cross and a deflection off the visitors’ defender, the ball travelled across the goal line, but there was no one to turn it into the net. The Scandinavians also had another chance – after a shot from Gudmundsson, the ball brushed the right post and went out of play.
The second half began with an exchange of chances: Anatolii Trubin reacted to a shot from Starfelt, while at the other end, Oleksandr Zubkov struck first time from the centre of the penalty area – straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. Nevertheless, it was the Swedes who scored again: in the 51st minute, Gyökeres received a pass from deep and found the right corner from the edge of the box. In the 60th minute, the Ukraine coaching staff made a triple substitution, and among others, Shakhtar midfielder Oleh Ocheretko came on. The nominal hosts continued to push forward with almost the entire team: Tsyhankov had a chance to reduce the deficit, but his close-range effort was saved by the goalkeeper. And in the 72nd minute, the contest was effectively decided: Gyökeres won a penalty and converted it himself to complete a hat-trick. In the remaining time, the Blue-and Yellows-managed to score a consolation goal – in the 90th minute, debutant Ponomarenko headed in from the goal area. 1-3 – Ukraine lost to Sweden and ended their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
On March 31, the Blue-and-Yellows will play a friendly against Albania in Valencia.