Four of the six remaining spots at World Cup 2026 will be taken by European countries, with 16 nations competing in four, four-team UEFA playoff paths over the next few days. Among them are Ukraine and Sweden, who will face off in the semifinals in playoff Path B on Thursday, with the winner hosting Poland or Albania the following Tuesday.

“Home” reality remains unchanged

We must, however, use the term “hosting” loosely when it comes to the Ukrainian national team, who will not be able to play on home soil due to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. The conflict began in 2014 and escalated in 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighboring country.

As a result, Ukraine’s last true home game was a friendly draw against Bulgaria in Odesa in November 2021. Since then, the Blue and Yellow have played “home” fixtures in Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany, as well as a UEFA Nations League playoff in Murcia, Spain.

Ukraine return to Spain, not Poland for crucial playoff

Exactly a year later, Ukraine return to the Spanish peninsula for Thursday’s World Cup playoff semifinal against Sweden, which will take place in Valencia at Levante’s Estadi Ciutat de València.

The majority of Ukraine’s home games in recent years have been played in Poland, but the fact the two teams were drawn in the same playoff path meant that option was off the table for this week’s action.

Why Valencia was chosen by Ukraine

According to AS sources, Ukrainian Soccer Federation officials first visited Estadi Ciutat de València in December with a view to securing the stadium as the team’s home base this month. Levante later confirmed the venue had been chosen due to its “excellent facilities and immaculate playing surface.”

Additionally, Valencia is home to one of Spain’s largest Ukrainian communities, with an estimated 10,000 Ukrainians living in the city and more than 31,000 in the wider Valencia province.

If Ukraine win Thursday’s semifinal, they will also take on Poland or Albania in the final in Valencia next Tuesday.

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