President of the Ukrainian Football Association Andriy Shevchenko stressed the importance of Ukraine's national team qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in three North American countries — Canada, the United States, and Mexico. According to him, participating in the World Cup is not only a sporting goal, but also an opportunity for Ukraine to be visible on the international stage at a time when the support and attention of the world are of key importance.
" For us, this is a way to remind ourselves of Ukraine. And it's also a great sporting achievement. We played in the World Cup only once - in 2006. Then we reached the quarterfinals, where we lost to Italy. It's time to repeat this path ," Shevchenko said in an interview with the French publication L'Équipe.
The UAF President emphasized that Serhiy Rebrov's team has two crucial matches ahead of them — against France and Iceland. These matches will be decisive in the fight for a place at the world forum.
Their results will determine the format of further participation: in the case of a positive scenario, Ukraine may qualify directly or get a chance in the play-offs. If both matches end unsuccessfully, the fight for a place in the World Cup for the "blue and yellow" team will be over.
Shevchenko called these games a moment of responsibility not only for the football players, but also for the entire country.
" This is important for the players, for the coaching staff, for the football community. But it is no less important for the people who support Ukraine, believe in the team and are waiting for a strong message from the world of sports ," he added.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first World Cup in history to be hosted by three countries at once, as well as the first tournament with an expanded format — 48 participants instead of 32. This opens up additional opportunities for teams competing for qualification.
