“I have one more game left”: Rebrov responds to whether he will leave the Ukrainian national team following the loss to Sweden
28 March 03:27
Following Ukraine’s defeat by Sweden in the semifinal of the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs, head coach Serhiy Rebrov was directly asked about his future at the helm of the national team. In response, the coach did not announce his resignation, but he also did not confirm that he would continue in his role, stating: “I have one more game.” This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the UAF.
This remark came amid Ukraine’s failure to qualify for the World Cup, sharp criticism following the 1-3 loss, and anticipation of the Ukrainian Football Association’s decision regarding the future of the coaching staff.
Will Rebrov remain the coach of the Ukrainian national team?
One of the main questions at the press conference was about the future of Serhiy Rebrov himself.
The coach noted that his contract with the Ukrainian Football Association is coming to an end.
“The contract ends soon. I haven’t received any offers from the UAF yet. When the contract ends, then you’ll all find out,” he said.
When asked to clarify whether he is stepping down now, Rebrov replied briefly:
“I have one more game.”
Thus, the coach did not confirm his immediate departure, but he also did not guarantee that he would continue working with the national team.
Why Rebrov is leaving the Ukrainian national team
The main reason cited for Serhiy Rebrov’s likely departure is his failure to achieve a key objective—qualifying the Ukrainian national team for the 2026 World Cup finals.
The coach’s current contract with the Ukrainian Football Association runs until the summer, but the parties do not plan to continue their cooperation.
Thus, the 1-3 loss to Sweden in the playoff semifinals effectively put an end to the coaching staff’s work with the national team.
How the Ukraine-Sweden match unfolded
On March 26, the Ukrainian national team lost to Sweden in the semifinal of the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs.
The defeat meant that:
- Ukraine did not advance to the World Cup finals;
- the team was once again left out of the World Cup;
- The UAF is forced to reconsider the future of the coaching staff.
It was this result that proved decisive for Rebrov’s future with the team.
How many matches has Rebrov managed the national team?
If the news of his departure is confirmed, Serhiy Rebrov will end his tenure with 34 matches at the helm of the national team.
The previous statistics are as follows:
- 15 wins;
- 10 losses;
- 8 draws.
These figures may still change after the friendly match against Albania, if that turns out to be the coach’s last game.
Who could replace Rebrov
According to Sport.ua, the Ukrainian Football Association is already considering two candidates for the position of the new head coach of the Ukrainian national team.
Among the possible candidates are:
- Unai Melgoso — a Spanish specialist who currently heads Ukraine’s youth national team;
- Ruslan Rotan — head coach of Zhytomyr’s “Polissya,” who previously worked with the national team at the Olympic Games.
According to the publication, these two names are on the shortlist of candidates.
What a potential coaching change means for the national team
Changing coaches after a failed qualifying campaign is standard practice for national teams, especially when the main tournament objective has not been met.
For the Ukrainian national team, this could mean:
- the start of a new phase of preparation;
- a revamp of the coaching staff;
- a possible change in playing style;
- preparation for upcoming official tournaments.
All of this will take place against the backdrop of the search for a new development strategy for the national team.
Is there official confirmation?
As of now, there is no official statement from the Ukrainian Football Association regarding Serhiy Rebrov’s resignation.
What Andriy Shevchenko said
Andriy Shevchenko, president of the Ukrainian Football Association, also reacted to the Ukrainian national team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“First of all, I want to thank the fans for supporting the Ukrainian national team. We are dissatisfied with the result, as the goal for this cycle has not been achieved,” Shevchenko said.
He noted that following the next match, the team and UAF leadership will conduct an analysis.
“After this friendly match, we will conduct a full analysis of the qualifying cycle, speak with the head coach, and make a decision in the best interest of the national team’s future,” added the UAF president.
