Canada vs Ukraine

BMO Field forms the backdrop for a rare international friendly between Canada and Ukraine. 

Goals on either side of halftime saw Canada pip the United States to a third-place finish in the 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League in March (2-1), marking their second-best result in the tournament’s four-year history. That win was also their fifth in seven matches since September 2024 (D1, L1), highlighting a feel-good factor around Jesse Marsch’s camp ahead of Canada’s first encounter against Ukraine since 2010. The only previous H2H ended 2-2, but another high-scoring event is not a foregone conclusion. Indeed, the Canucks’ last six internationals have fluctuated between producing over and under 2.5 goals, with Canada netting at least two in each ‘high-scoring’ game.

Meanwhile, Ukraine failed to return to the UEFA Nations League top tier in March despite beating Belgium 3-1 in the first leg of their two-legged playoff tie. Indeed, a 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture condemned them to another season in League B while halting their five-game unbeaten streak in all competitions (W3, D2). It was also their first scoring blank since a scoreless draw against none other than Belgium at Euro 2024 last summer, with Serhiy Rebrov’s side netting at least once in seven subsequent outings. However, they’ve been prone to conceding cheap goals lately, keeping just one clean sheet in eight post-Euro 2024 matches!