The Ukrainian men’s national football team has decided to host its upcoming competitive home fixtures in Slovakia, moving away from Poland where it has played the majority of its international matches since the Russian invasion began in 2022.
The Ukrainian Association of Football announced that the team’s upcoming UEFA Nations League “home” matches will take place in Trnava, located in western Slovakia. Ukraine’s initial two Nations League fixtures are scheduled away against Hungary and Georgia in September, followed by their first home match against Northern Ireland on October 2.
This relocation applies exclusively to the upcoming window of the UEFA Nations League, leaving venues for subsequent matches undecided. While no official explanation was provided for the shift, the move coincides with rising diplomatic tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw. The two countries are currently facing a diplomatic impasse driven by a dispute over historical grievances from World War II, which has contributed to an increase in anti-Ukrainian sentiment within Poland.
Since the 2022 invasion forced Ukraine to play its international home fixtures abroad—frequently utilizing Polish stadiums to accommodate the large population of Ukrainian refugees—the team has also occasionally used facilities in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Spain. Additionally, Ukraine has previous experience playing in Trnava at the Štadión Antona Malatinského, where they previously hosted Cyprus during a Euro 2024 qualifying match.
