Poland and Ukraine will face off in an international friendly at the Wroclaw Stadium on Sunday as both nations begin preparations for the next UEFA Nations League campaign following their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After successive World Cup appearances and qualification for five straight European Championships, Poland had been expected to secure another place on football’s biggest stage. However, despite defeating Albania 2-1 in the playoff semi-finals, Jan Urban’s men suffered a crushing 3-2 defeat to Sweden, with Viktor Gyokeres netting a dramatic late winner to end their hopes.
That defeat also brought an end to Poland’s seven-match unbeaten run and denied veteran striker Robert Lewandowski the opportunity to feature at another World Cup. Despite speculation surrounding international retirement, the Barcelona forward remains part of the squad for Sunday’s encounter as Poland begin planning for the future.
The Polish national team’s official X account has already built anticipation for the fixture, announcing the team’s return to Tarczyński Arena Wrocław with a promotional video featuring aerial stadium shots, Lewandowski highlights and celebrations ahead of the May 31 showdown.
Poland showed encouraging form before their playoff heartbreak, recording five wins and two draws in their previous seven matches, including a pair of impressive 1-1 draws against World Cup-bound Netherlands.
Ukraine, meanwhile, endured their own World Cup disappointment after losing 3-1 to Sweden in the playoff rounds, a defeat which ultimately led to the departure of manager Sergei Rebrov. Former Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille assistant coach Andrea Maldera has since taken charge of the national team ahead of a new era.
Ukraine’s preparations have not been straightforward either, with France defeating them 2-0 in their opening fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Since June 2025, the Ukrainians have managed five wins, one draw and three defeats across all competitions, with victories over Iceland and Albania standing out during that period.
The two sides last met in June 2024 when Poland secured a convincing 3-1 victory, extending their winning run against Ukraine to three consecutive matches dating back to 2016.
Team News
Poland will be without Matty Cash, opening the door for Arkadiusz Pyrka to potentially earn only his third international cap at right wing-back. Tomasz Kedziora is also pushing for a place in defence, while Michal Skoras and Filip Rozga are both in contention for recalls.
Robert Lewandowski is expected to start the match, while Motor Lublin striker Karol Czubak could make his senior international debut after scoring 18 goals during the domestic season.
For Ukraine, new manager Andrea Maldera may make several changes from the side defeated by Sweden in March. Mykola Matviyenko could return in central defence alongside Valeriy Bondar, while experienced midfielders Mykola Shaparenko and Ruslan Malinovskyi are also expected to feature.
Veteran winger Andriy Yarmolenko is in line for his 125th international appearance, while Roma striker Artem Dovbyk may be preferred ahead of Roman Yaremchuk in attack.
Possible Lineups
Poland possible starting lineup:
Grabara; Kiwior, Bednarek, Wisniewski; Pyrka, Szymanski, Zielinski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Kaminski; Lewandowski
Ukraine possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Bondar, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Sudakov, Shaparenko; Tsygankov, Malinovskyi, Yarmolenko; Dovbyk
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SportyTV |
| Live Stream | ESPN |
| Kick-off Time | 16:30 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Poland 2-1 Ukraine
Both sides are entering a rebuilding phase after missing out on World Cup qualification, but Poland’s experience and strong recent record against Ukraine could give them the edge in Wroclaw.
