Azerbaijan vs Ukraine in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Key Insights and Predictions
As part of the qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Ukrainian national team has already begun its journey, but the results so far leave much to be desired.
In the second match of Group D, Ukraine will face Azerbaijan away in a crucial game that could significantly influence their tournament progression.
The opening fixtures for both teams were far from ideal: Ukraine lost 0:2 to France in Poland, failing to capitalize on their opportunities, while Azerbaijan suffered a heavy 0:5 defeat against Iceland.
According to the FIFA rankings, Ukraine presently holds the 26th position, whereas Azerbaijan is ranked 122nd, making it clear that Ukraine is the favorite in this confrontation.
However, the Ukrainian team led by Sergei Rebrov faces challenges: the squad is not in optimal form, hampered by injuries to key players and a lack of match practice for several performers.
Notably, goalie Andriy Lunin, defenders Vitaliy Mykolenko and Roman Yaremchuk, along with forward Viktor Tsyhankov, will be absent due to injuries.
Historically, these teams have met for the first time since 2006, with two friendly matches ending in a draw (0:0 in Baku) and a dominant Ukrainian victory (6:0 in Kyiv).
The match will be officiated by Greek referee Vasilis Fotiadis, and it is scheduled to kick off at 19:00 Kyiv time.
Fans can tune in for live coverage of this significant fixture.