Ukraine is set to host France at Stadion Miejski on Friday, 5 September 2025, in what promises to be an enthralling start to the Group D World Cup Qualifiers. Both sides are looking to make an early statement in the group, which also features Azerbaijan and Iceland.
Ukraine, aiming to return to the World Cup for only the second time after reaching the quarter-finals in 2006, will be eager to get off to a strong start. France, winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, arrive as one of the tournament favorites and will want to assert their dominance early.
Recent encounters between these two sides have been closely contested. The last two meetings ended in 1-1 draws, though France has also handed Ukraine heavy defeats in the past. This suggests a match where the home side could be resilient but will need to be at their best to keep the reigning champions at bay.
Ukraine has had a mixed start to the year under Serhiy Rebrov, losing to Belgium in the UEFA Nations League and then to Canada in a friendly, before securing a morale-boosting win over New Zealand. The team will rely heavily on captain Oleksandr Zinchenko, whose technical ability allows him to influence play further up the pitch, and goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, whose reflexes and agility make him a formidable presence between the sticks. Illia Zabarnyi, who recently joined PSG from Bournemouth, adds intelligence and composure to Ukraine’s defense. The only notable absentee is veteran forward Andriy Yarmolenko.
France has also experienced an inconsistent period. Narrowly losing to Spain in the Nations League before a strong win over Germany shows that Didier Deschamps’ side can deliver when it matters. Kylian Mbappe, who has scored in his last two national games, will be the key threat, supported by the electric pace of Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, who has already hit the ground running this season.
France’s squad is missing Arsenal defender William Saliba due to injury, while PSG duo Randal Kolo Muani and Warren Zaire-Emery have been left out as Deschamps rotates the squad.
Predicted line-ups see Ukraine lining up in a 4-3-3 formation with Lunin in goal, Zinchenko and Zabarnyi at the heart of the defense, and Zubkov leading the attack. France are expected to play 4-2-3-1 with Maignan in goal, Mbappe spearheading the attack, and Olise, Dembele, and Thuram operating behind him.
From a betting perspective, the match looks tightly balanced. Both teams scored in three of their last five encounters, suggesting a strong possibility for goals at both ends, but historically, several meetings have ended with fewer than three goals. A draw is a realistic prediction given recent H2H results and the home advantage that could keep Ukraine competitive. For punters, backing Mbappe to score anytime is an attractive option, alongside considering both teams to find the net.
All eyes will be on Stadion Miejski as these two nations kick off their qualifying campaigns, with a closely fought encounter expected. The stage is set for a tactical battle where France may have the edge on paper, but Ukraine’s home crowd and determination could ensure the points are shared.