2026 World Cup Qualifiers: How to Watch Iceland vs Ukraine and Discover the Match Favorite
Ukraine and Iceland Face Off in World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
Ukraine’s Struggle in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
On the evening of October 10, the Ukrainian national football team is set to face Iceland in their third qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. The game, scheduled at Reykjavík’s Laugardalsvöllur Stadium at 21:45 Kyiv time, offers Ukraine another chance to make their mark after an underwhelming start in this qualification campaign.
Ukraine’s journey began with a loss to France, who scored two goals courtesy of Olise and Mbappé. The second match saw a 1:1 draw against Azerbaijan. Currently, the standings are led by France with 6 points, Iceland follows with 3 points, and Ukraine alongside Azerbaijan with 1 point each.
Key Players and Team Updates
Head coach Serhiy Rebrov recently announced the squad for Ukraine’s qualifiers against Iceland and Azerbaijan. Returning to the team are Ruslan Malinovskyi and Volodymyr Brazhko, both making comebacks after a year’s absence. However, the team will be missing Girona midfielder Viktor Tsyhankov due to an injury, alongside Dynamo Kyiv’s Oleksandr Tymchyk.
In another setback, Yehor Yarmoliuk missed training due to an ankle ligament injury. While he won’t feature in the upcoming match against Iceland, the coaching staff remains hopeful for his participation in the subsequent game against Azerbaijan.
New Faces in the Ukrainian Squad
The Ukrainian lineup sees fresh faces, with Polissya winger Vladyslav Veleten and Shakhtar midfielder Oleh Ocheretko receiving their debut call-ups. The latter replaces Oleksandr Zubkov from Turkish Trabzonspor.
Historical Meeting and Referees
This upcoming clash will mark the sixth encounter between Ukraine and Iceland, with the last meeting resulting in a 2:1 victory for Ukraine during the Euro 2024 qualifiers. The match will be presided over by referee Sven Jablonski, assisted by Eduard Beitinger and Lasse Kozlowski. Florian Badstübner will serve as the fourth official, while Benjamin Brand and Daniel Schlager handle the VAR system.
How to Watch the Ukraine vs Iceland Match
Fans in Ukraine can catch the live broadcast through a paid subscription on the “Football 1” channel via the MEGOGO media service. Free viewing options are available on cable networks and digital terrestrial television T2 on the “MEGOGO Sport” channel.
Match Predictions: Iceland Slightly Favored
The betting odds tip Iceland as the slight favorite, with bookmakers offering 2.8 for their win. A victory for Ukraine stands at 2.4, while a draw is priced at 3.4, reflecting the closely matched expectations between these two teams as they fight for a crucial win in the World Cup qualifiers.
