- June 11, 2026
- 5:58 pm
- World News
Ukraine finished the group without points, but the main match is still ahead
The Ukrainian women’s national football team completed the first stage of the 2027 World Cup qualification with a defeat to England — 0:3.
Formally, the picture is grim: last place in Group A3, 0 points, ahead is not a long distance, but a playoff where a mistake can cost the entire tournament. Spain and England scored 15 points each, Iceland — 6, Ukraine remained fourth.
But the main intrigue for the Israeli audience is not this.
Now Ukraine moves to Path 2 of the qualification playoffs, and among its potential opponents in the first round is Israel. So, after the draw on June 18, a pair may appear that will be of interest not only to sports journalists but also to thousands of people between Ukraine and Israel.
It could be a match with a strong emotional background: the Ukrainian team trying to return to the fight after a failed group stage, and Israel, which could become the first obstacle on Ukraine’s path to the World Cup in Brazil.
Why Israel in this story is not just a point on the list
Potential opponents of Ukraine in the first round of the playoffs: Finland, Belgium, Turkey, Czech Republic, Albania, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, and Israel.
The presence of Israel changes the angle of the news for our audience.
For Ukrainians in Israel, repatriates, Russian-speaking fans, and everyone following the connection between the two countries, a possible Ukraine-Israel match will not just be a football poster. It will be a game where the sports table intersects with personal stories, families, war, emigration, and the feeling that both countries have long been in the same nervous field.
What the playoffs mean for Ukraine
Ukraine enters the first round as a seeded team because it played in Division A. This gives it a more favorable position at the start of the playoffs but does not guarantee an easy road.
After the first round, the winners of Path 2 pairs will play against the winners of Path 1 pairs. At this stage, the Ukrainian team will no longer be seeded.
Simply put, to reach the 2027 World Cup, Ukraine needs to pass two opponents in a row. The first could be Israel.
And this is where the real story begins.
After 0 points in the group, the Ukrainian team needs not just to win the next match. It needs to prove that the group with Spain and England was a painful but not final verdict. The playoffs give a second chance but do not allow time for long explanations.
Calendar: when it will become clear
The draw for both rounds of the qualification playoffs will take place on June 18.
The first round matches will be held from October 7–13. The second round is scheduled for the period from November 26 to December 5.
The Women’s World Cup 2027 will be held in Brazil from June 24 to July 25.
For NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, the key moment is the draw: if Ukraine gets Israel, in the fall we will have a match that will matter far beyond the football field.
Ukraine vs. Israel — a possible poster with a big context
The Ukrainian team approaches the playoffs after a tough stage. England defeated Ukraine 3:0, and the entire group tournament showed the difference between the teams of the European elite and the team that continues to fight in difficult conditions.
But the playoffs are arranged differently.
There, the winner is not always the one who passed the group more beautifully. Often, one quick goal, one defender’s mistake, one set piece, one successful substitution, one minute of concentration at the end of the match decide.
If the opponent becomes Israel, the game will gain special interest in Israel. It will be a match that will be followed not only as a sport but also as an event in the relations of two societies, where the Ukrainian theme after 2022 has become part of everyday reality.
What is important for Ukraine before the draw
Ukraine needs to quickly reboot after a group without points.
The team needs to strengthen its defense because in the playoffs a conceded goal can change the entire scenario. A bolder game forward is also needed: it is impossible to pass two rounds without goals.
Ukraine’s advantage is the status of a seeded team in the first round.
The risk is psychological pressure after an unsuccessful group stage and the understanding that each game can become the last in this qualification.
Israel in the list of possible opponents makes the anticipation of the draw especially important for the local audience. While this is only an option, it is such options that often turn a dry qualification calendar into a real sports intrigue.
FAQ
Why is the topic related to Israel?
Because Israel is on the list of potential opponents for Ukraine in the first round of the 2027 World Cup qualification playoffs.
Has Ukraine already been eliminated from the qualification?
No. Ukraine finished last in Group A3 without points but will continue to fight in Path 2 of the playoffs.
When can Ukraine find out if it will play against Israel?
The draw will take place on June 18. It is then that it will be known who Ukraine’s opponent will be in the first round.
When will the first round of the playoffs take place?
The first round matches will be held from October 7–13.
Where will the 2027 Women’s World Cup be held?
The tournament will be held in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027.