How Ukraine can qualify to FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar: Playoff final vs Wales up next

Kyle Bonn

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How Ukraine can qualify to FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar: Playoff final vs Wales up next image

For an embattled nation hoping for an emotional uplift, one test is complete and one more is yet to come.

Ukraine, pushing for qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar to give its citizens and fans something to savor after several trying months, downed Scotland 3-1 in a Euro playoff qualifier semifinal on June 1. The victory sets up a June 5 showdown against Wales, who await in the playoff final after having defeated Austria back in March.

The final World Cup berth in Europe was pushed back to the summer because of the war in Ukraine. The winner will slot into Group B alongside the United States, England, and Iran.

Ukraine are a group fueled by emotion and patriotism given the wartime situation in the country, and securing a place in the 2022 World Cup in dramatic fashion would give the nation a lift at a very difficult time.

MORE: Full overview of 2022 World Cup Group B

Wales vs. Ukraine live stream & TV channel

  UK USA Canada Australia
Date Sun, June 5 Sun, June 5 Sun, June 5 Mon, June 6
Time 5 p.m. BST 12 p.m. ET 12 p.m. ET 2 a.m. AEST
TV channel Sky Sports/ITV ESPN TLN —
Stream ITV Hub fuboTV, ESPN+, ViX TLN/UEFA Optus Sport

UK: In the UK, the match is available on free-to-air TV through ITV or their streaming platform All4. It will also be broadcast on Sky Sports.

USA: The match will be televised on ESPN, which is available to stream on fuboTV in English, as well as on ESPN+ for subscribers. Fans can watch the match in Spanish on Univision streaming platform ViX.

Canada: The match can be seen via TLN and streamed through UEFA's site.

Australia: Viewers can follow the action via Optus Sport.

How Ukraine beat Scotland

Led by goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk bracketing halftime, Ukraine topped Scotland 3-1 on the road to advance to the European playoff final against Wales.

The Ukrainians, clad in their traditional yellow kit with blue trim, opened the gates as the top side, and maintained that superiority throughout the first half. Yarmolenko had a big miss in the first 20 minutes, but managed to open the scoring with a stunning goal just past the half-hour mark.

Ukraine dominated Scotland throughout the first half and into the early stages of the second half, passing through the lines with ease and counterattacking with venom. Yaremchuk doubled the lead on 49 minutes as Scotland looked defeated.

The home nation, managed by Steve Clarke, made tactical changes at halftime as Scott McTominay moved up from his defensive role into midfield. After Ukraine's second goal, the change began to take effect and suddenly Scotland were in charge. John McGinn missed a glorious chance past the hour mark, but Callum McGregor found a lifeline in the 79th minute as the ball struck with pace clattered through the hands of Ukraine goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan. It was cleared by a Ukrainian defender, but not before the ball crossed the line, as signaled by goal-line technology.

The visitors were forced to hang on as the game wound down, with Scotland pouring on the pressure, but Ukraine kept the lead in its grasp, and with it a place in the playoff final.

Artem Dovbyk ensured the final result with a last-second goal in the sixth minute of added time, sending manager Oleksandr Petrakov punching the air triumphantly.

MORE: Full recap of Ukraine's 3-1 victory over Scotland

How Ukraine can qualify for World Cup vs. Wales

All that stands between Ukraine and an emotional qualification to the 2022 World Cup is a match against Wales on Sunday, June 5 (12 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. BST).

It's a tough challenge, as Gareth Bale's side ranks 18th in the world and sports a dangerous goalscoring threat in the departing Real Madrid winger. He scored twice in Wales' 2-1 win over Austria in their March playoff semifinal.

Still, Wales come into the playoff final on the backs of a tough loss to Poland in a UEFA Nations League match, with goals from substitutes Jakub Kaminski and Karol Swiderski completing a comeback victory to trump a goal from Swindon Town midfielder Jonathan Williams.

Ukraine vs. Wales head-to-head

Nation FIFA Rank Main
Goalscorer		 Last 5 matches Head-to-head
W-L-D
Wales 18th Gareth Bale LDWDW 0-2-1
Ukraine 27th Andriy Yarmolenko WWDDW 2-0-1

Why the world is rooting for Ukraine

Russia invaded Ukraine in February and has since committed several humanitarian atrocities, as the world rallied behind the embattled nation.

This playoff bracket was scheduled to be completed alongside the others in March, but Ukraine asked to postpone the matches after the invasion and both Scotland and Wales agreed to comply.

Given the situation back home, which many of the Ukrainian players have witnessed first hand, success for the national team could provide an emotional lift for citizens of a country that have faced true hardship and sadness over the past five months. Many players have been unable to hold back emotions since the invasion, with some taking leave from their clubs in February and March.

One of the emotional leaders of the team has been fullback Oleksandr Zinchenko, who wrapped the Premier League trophy in the Ukrainian flag after securing the title in mid-May. He then broke down in tears during his pre-match press conference before the match against Scotland, and received a standing ovation from the press room as he departed.

As the match against Scotland arrived, the Ukrainian national anthem was an emotional moment at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

After Dovbyk scored the third goal against Scotland, Ukraine manager Oleksandr Petrakov let his emotions out, punching the air and unleashing a pair of primal yells that could be felt around the world.

Watch in the United States:

Watch in the U.K.:

Kyle Bonn

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Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.