The Swedish national football team is in Valencia, Spain, for a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Thursday. The match is reportedly being played on neutral ground because Ukraine cannot host home matches due to the war in their country. Ukrainian players and their coach have expressed that they are playing for their soldiers and Ukraine, with the coach stating that reaching the World Cup is important for their people.
Both teams expect a difficult match, with Ukrainian players noting respect for their opponents and highlighting the threat from Swedish player Viktor Gyökeres. The Ukrainian team has reportedly been playing home matches in other countries for four years, with signs around the arena in Spain listing the places where they have played since the war began.
reaching the World Cup is important for their people