2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers: Ukraine vs England

Ukraine kick off their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying campaign against England.

Victory will put either Ukraine or England top of their qualifying group for at least a few hours, before Spain face Iceland.

 

Team News

Ukraine have no fresh injury withdrawals but Alina Savka, Iryna Kotiash, Yana Malakhova, Viktoria Radionova, Natia Pantsulaia and Nadiia Kunina were left out of the squad.

England have no fresh injury concerns to report as Poppy Pattinson looks to make her senior debut in her first call-up to the squad.

Grace Fisk and Freya Godfrey are also looking for their first senior international caps.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Ukraine meet England on neutral territory at Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey, due to not being permitted to play at home due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The match will kick off at 6pm CET (5pm UK Time) and be shown live on ITV4 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Ukraine are yet to beat England in FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying (L2), having lost 4-0 away in May 2014 then 2-1 at home in June 2014.
• England won 2-1 in their only previous FIFA Women’s World Cup away qualifier against Ukraine in June 2014 as they qualified for the 2015 edition.
• None of England’s three previous goalscorers against Ukraine in FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying are still active players (Natasha Dowie, Eniola Aluko and Casey Stoney).
• Roksolana Kravchuk has scored in each of Ukraine’s last two matches (W1, D1).
• England have scored 13 goals without conceding in their last three matches (W3).

 

Prediction

With no clean sheets in their last eight matches across all competitions (W3, D3, L2). Ukraine definitely face a huge defensive test if they’re to start this qualifying campaign on a positive note given their underdog status in the group and facing the big hitters in their first two games.

England meanwhile are coming into this game off the back of a positive finish to 2025 in which they won three of their four autumn friendlies, of which they certainly learned a lot about where they stand going into this campaign but their defence does remain the vulnerable aspect of their game.

I however do think that they should have too much quality for Ukraine to handle if they turn up with the right attitude and quality, but Ukraine’s goalscoring form suggests that a clean sheet is unlikely.

Prediction: Ukraine 1-2 England

Result: Ukraine 1-6 England