Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi has expressed confidence and determination ahead of his national team’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against tournament favourites France.

Speaking to the media in Wrocław, Zabarnyi was optimistic about Ukraine’s chances, despite acknowledging the strength of the opposition:

“This is football—anything can happen. We’ve already beaten strong teams in the past. Right now, we have a good squad and I truly believe we have a real chance.”

“Of course, we understand that France are the favourites. They have a world-class team. But in football, nothing is guaranteed. We’ll give everything we have to win and to finish first in the group.”

Zabarnyi also touched on the emotional and logistical challenges of playing “home” matches abroad, as Ukraine continues to host fixtures outside the country due to the ongoing war:

“Of course, it’s not the same as playing in Ukraine. It’s something you really feel. These are completely different kinds of games. All of us miss playing at home—we want to return as soon as possible.”

“But we understand the situation. There’s been war in our country for nearly four years now. Wherever we play, we represent Ukraine with pride. It doesn’t matter if it’s in Poland or elsewhere—we play for our people, and we give it our all.”

Ukraine vs France kicks off on Thursday, 5 September, at 20:45 CET at Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław, Poland.