Ukrainian players are victims of a surprise robbery

The Ukrainian national team suffered a sudden setback ahead of their crucial World Cup 2026 playoff against Sweden after their training camp in Benidorm, Spain, was burglarized. According to reports, unknown individuals took advantage of the players and staff being away from their rooms, breaking in and stealing money and valuables, including luxury watches. This incident negatively impacted the team's focus before the match. A member of the coaching staff also lost approximately €1,800. This wasn't the only incident during the international break; a similar one occurred at the Ghanaian national team's training camp in Vienna, Austria. The 3-1 defeat to Sweden compounded Ukraine's woes, eliminating them from contention for a World Cup 2026 qualification spot. Swedish striker Viktor Györgyi scored a hat-trick, while Matvey Ponomarenko scored Ukraine's lone goal in the final minutes. With this victory, the Swedish national team continues its journey in the playoffs, where it prepares to face Poland in a decisive match to determine who qualifies for the 2026 World Cup.