The two teams will face each other on Friday, March 27, at 06:45 AEDT, with an exceptional amount on the line for Serhiy Rebrov and Graham Potter's teams.

The final in Path B will see the winners of this one take on either Poland or Albania to see if they will be heading to North America for the biggest tournament in world soccer. If you're new to betting on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this match offers a fascinating clash of two nations desperate to qualify.

Quick Picks

Our pick: Sweden to win

Value bet: 'Under 2.5 goals'

Long shot: '1-0 Sweden correct score'

Betting Preview

A total of five games have been played between these two nations since Ukraine became a separate entity, and it's not one that Sweden have particularly enjoyed. Of the five games, the Swedes have just one win, whereas the Eastern Europeans have won four.

Results have included:

• Jun 2021: Sweden 1-2 Ukraine
• Jun 2012: Ukraine 2-1 Sweden
• Aug 2011: Ukraine 0-1 Sweden
• Feb 2011: Sweden 1-1 Ukraine (Ukraine on pens)
• Jun 2008: Sweden 0-1 Ukraine

It's perhaps worth noting that the two most recent games between these two nations came in the UEFA European Championships, suggesting the Ukrainians have a slight edge in competitive situations.

Both nations haven't arguably had the best of times when it comes to recent World Cups. Neither qualified for Qatar in 2022 after disappointing qualification campaigns. Sweden played in 2018, but Ukraine's last appearance was in 2006, when they reached the quarter-finals.

The last time the tournament was played in the US (1994), Sweden finished third. A quarter-final appearance in 2018 has since been their best showing. For more context on the World Cup betting landscape, both teams will be eager to return to the biggest stage.

Betting Markets to Watch

It's worth noting that games between these two nations can be very cagey, while the added all-or-nothing scenario will add a further amount of nerves and tension to this one. A margin of one goal is usually enough to settle games between these two, and with both teams not scoring many (approx. 1.6 goals per game for both), a low-scoring encounter is likely.

We think this means there's value in the 'Under 2.5 Goals' market, as we don't think it'll be a game in which many goals are scored. Ukraine scored 10 in their six qualifiers (conceding 11), whereas Sweden only managed four (conceding 12).

Given that we think there'll be fewer than 2.5 goals, we think there's value in the 'No' in the 'Both Teams to Score' market. If you're considering combining legs in a Same Game Multi, these low-scoring markets could work well together.

Our Prediction

Check the latest Ukraine vs Sweden betting odds at Sportsbet.

Despite not winning a single game in qualification, we think Sweden offers value on the moneyline. Potter has had two games in charge (1D, 1L), with the Swedish showing signs of improvement after a disastrous campaign.

Our long shot is for Sweden to win 1-0. Sweden have been shocking, but with a World Cup place on the line, the Swedes are likely to step up.

Keep Reading

• Which World Cup groups will be the toughest to escape?
• How the Socceroos stack up against their World Cup rivals
• New to multibets? Here's everything you need to know