Ukraine lost the chance for first pot in the draw for the World Cup qualification.

The Ukrainian national football team lost the opportunity to get into the first pot during the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualification tournament.

On December 13, 2024, the qualification draw for the World Cup for European teams will take place, where 54 teams will be divided into 12 groups of 4-5 teams. They will compete to determine the 16 European teams that will become participants in the World Cup.

The first pot of the draw will include the 8 best teams according to the UEFA Nations League ranking in division A, as well as 4 teams that will have the best FIFA ranking at the Time of the draw.

The Ukrainian team lost the chance to get into the first pot after the October Nations League matches.

Recall that 12 group winners will receive direct tickets to the tournament, which will take place in Canada, the USA, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Another 4 participants of the World Cup from Europe will be determined in the playoffs, which will be held in the "final four" format.

To 12 teams that take second place in the group stage of the qualification tournament, 4 best group winners of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25, who did not take first or second place in the group stage of the qualification, will join. These 16 teams will be distributed into four paths - four teams on each.

Guaranteed to get into the first pot during the draw: France, Spain, England, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Germany.

Another 4 teams will be determined after the group stage of the Nations League.

Recall, on October 14, the Ukrainian national football team drew with the Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League match (group B). The game took place at Tarczyński Arena Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland. The meeting ended with a score of 1:1.

The Czech Republic went ahead thanks to a goal by Lukáš Červ on the 18th minute. But Ukraine managed to equalize in the second half thanks to a goal by Artem Dovbyk on the 51st minute.