On Sunday, 16 November, the Ukrainian national team played their final match of the 2026 World Cup qualifying round in Warsaw. Their opponents were Iceland and the game determined who would finish second in the group and advance to the play-offs for a World Cup spot.
Before the match both teams had 7 points. Although Serhiy Rebrov’s side had beaten Iceland away (5:3), the Icelanders were ahead in the standings thanks to a better goal difference (+4 versus Ukraine’s -3).
From the opening minutes Ukraine pushed forward, looking for the goal that would put them in a favourable position. They created several chances in the first half: Zubkov missed twice from promising positions, Tsyhankov hit the crossbar with a trademark shot from the right flank and Vanat tried to finish a low cross with a backheel but couldn’t beat the goalkeeper.
While Iceland mostly defended before the break they had a big opportunity early in the second half when Willumsson headed a cross from the right but Trubin made a crucial close-range save. Moments later Zubkov fired a powerful shot from outside the box but the keeper parried it. The goalkeeper also denied Tsyhankov’s curling effort into the top near corner.
Ukraine continued to dominate possession (Dynamo's Mykola Shaparenko entered the match in the 69th minute earning his 48th cap) but they also needed to stay alert defensively. Trubin pulled off another stunning save after Palsson’s header from a left-side free kick. At the other end Olafsson twice saved Iceland: first from Yaremchuk’s header after a Tsyhankov cross and then from Yaremchuk’s close-range rebound.
But on the 83rd minute the Icelandic goalkeeper couldn’t help his team anymore. Tsyhankov sent in a corner from the right wing, Hutsulyak flicked it toward the far post and Zubkov tapped it in - 1:0.
In stoppage time Ukraine doubled their lead. Hutsulyak struck from outside the box and after a deflection off a defender the ball flew past the goalkeeper into the net - 2:0.
This important victory allowed Ukraine to finish second in the group and advance to the play-offs for a chance to qualify for next year’s World Cup. The play-off opponents will be determined later by the draw.
2026 World Cup qualifying round
Ukraine – Iceland – 2:0 (0:0)
16.11.2025, Warsaw, Polish Army Stadium
Ukraine: Trubin – Konoplia, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko – Malinovskyi (Hutsulyak, 77), Kaliuzhnyi, Yarmoliuk (Shaparenko, 69), Tsyhankov (Nazaryna, 87), Zubkov (Svatok, 87) – Vanat (Yaremchuk, 68).
Iceland: Olafsson – Palsson, Ingason, Magnusson, Ellertsson (Tomasson, 86) – Haraldsson, Johannesson, A. Gudmundsson, Willumsson (Joh. Gudmundsson, 65), Thorsteinsson (D. Gudjohnsen, 86) – A. Gudjohnsen.
Goals: Zubkov (83), Hutsulyak (90+3).
Booked: Malinovskyi (75), Konoplia (85) – Johannesson (45+1).
