Sweden failed to win any of their World Cup qualifiers last year
The Swedes have lost four of their last five internationals
Recommended bet: Ukraine to win and both teams to score
Despite failing to win a game in last year’s World Cup qualifying campaign, Sweden have a second chance of making this summer’s tournament.
The Swedes turned to former Chelsea and West Ham boss Graham Potter in October of last year after taking only one point from their first four qualifiers, knowing they had a playoff spot thanks to their Nations League success in 2024.
However, Potter’s Sweden face a difficult test against a strong Ukraine side who qualified for Euro 2024 through the same route.
Team news
Ukraine will need to navigate this clash without Oleksandr Zinchenko, who won’t even feature at the World Cup should they get there after suffering an ACL injury. They’re also without forward Artem Dovbyk for this tie.
Alexander Isak has been ruled out for Sweden, but they can call upon Arsenal’s Victor Gyokeres and Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga. Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski is another key absentee from Potter’s second squad as Sweden boss.
The latest Ukraine vs Sweden odds are available at LiveScore Bet
The stats
Ukraine closed 2025 with three wins from their last four matches.
The Ukrainians won 3-1 on Spanish soil against Belgium in a Nations League playoff last March.
Sweden lost visits to Kosovo and Switzerland last Autumn.
The Swedes qualified for the playoffs thanks to a kind draw in their 2024 Nations League campaign.
Ukraine have won three of their last four single-leg playoff games.
That includes 2-1 wins over Bosnia and Iceland to make Euro 2024.
The latest Ukraine vs Sweden odds are available at LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Ukraine’s recent home internationals have been held on neutral ground, and this playoff tie is being played in Valencia. While Ukraine tend to play their home matches in Poland, they met Belgium in Murcia in their opening game of 2025, winning 3-1 in the first leg of their Nations League playoff tie.
Ukraine beat Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland in this playoff format to qualify for Euro 2024, winning both games 2-1. Their hopes of progressing were boosted by a strong finish to last year, which brought a 5-3 win in Iceland and a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan as part of a run of three wins from four in qualifying.
Sweden lost four of their final five World Cup qualifiers, and they were comprehensively outplayed in the first two matches of Potter’s tenure. They lost 4-1 to Switzerland, giving up seven shots on target, while their 1-1 draw at home to Slovenia saw them generate 0.64 Expected Goals to their opponents’ 2.14.
The Swedes’ have some impressive attacking players and there’s reason to be confident in them going forward. However, Ukraine’s experience in these qualifying campaigns, along with their stronger recent performances, suggest that they can win a high-scoring clash with the Swedes.
Back Ukraine to win and both teams to score @ 4/1 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Ukraine vs Sweden odds are available at LiveScore Bet
