UAF President Andriy Shevchenko spoke to L'Équipe about the unique significance of every Ukraine national team match over the past three and a half years — including tomorrow’s fixture against France.

“We’ve shown that even during war, we can still compete at the highest level. Our national teams represent Ukraine with dignity and remind the world of what our country is going through. Football is a powerful tool, and we must use it to support our nation,” Shevchenko said.

For the former Ballon d’Or winner, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup carries immense importance — both symbolically and athletically:

“First of all, we must represent our country on the international stage and remind the world about Ukraine. Secondly, it would be a major sporting achievement. We’ve only qualified for the World Cup once — in 2006, when we reached the quarter-finals before losing to Italy. Now we want to repeat that success. It would be a victory not just for the players, but for the entire football community, because such results inspire the growth of the sport.”