Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 08:59 / Updated Wednesday, November 19, 2025 09:15
Viktor Leonenko, 56, former Ukrainian international and ex-striker at Dinamo Kyiv, hopes that Ukraine, a possible opponent of Romania in the play-off, will avoid the “tricolors” on the way to the World Championship in 2026.
Romania and Ukraine are two of the 16 teams that will participate in the European World Cup qualification play-off, one that involves two rounds and offers the last 4 tickets for next year's final tournament.
Adversary at Euro 2024, Ukraine and Romania could face each other again, considering that our neighbors are part of the first ballot box, and the “tricolors”, qualified for the play-off thanks to the League of Nations, from the fourth ballot box.
Viktor Leonenko, former striker at Dinamo Kyiv, with matches for the national team, hopes that Ukraine will avoid Romania in the draw. In his opinion, the ideal opponent among the possible 4 is Northern Ireland. Urn 4 may include Sweden and North Macedonia.
Viktor Leonenko does NOT want Romania in the World Championship qualifiers
“The weakest opponent is Northern Ireland, we would definitely get past them, even if it wouldn't be easy. I played with the North Macedonians at Euro 2020 and played only one good half, but even with them Ukraine would be the favourite.
We remember the Romanians well from Euro 2024, when we lost 0-3. Now Lucescu is also there, who knows Ukrainian football. It would be difficult against Sweden too, but in one game anything can happen. Let's wait for the draw,” Leonenko said, according to dynamo.kiev.ua.
Ukraine finished 2nd in preliminary group D, collecting 10 points from 6 matches against France, Iceland and Azerbaijan. The Ukrainians lost both matches against France, 0-2, 0-4, and drew in Azerbaijan, 1-1.
Being seeded, in the 1st urn, Ukraine will play the semi-final of the pool at home. In the preliminaries, our neighbors played their “home” matches in Poland, in Wrocław, Krakow and Warsaw.
