Finland vs Poland, FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, Today Match Prediction

Finland vs Poland Match Prediction & Analysis

Group G leaders Poland visit second-placed Finland in Helsinki on Tuesday, aiming for a third consecutive World Cup 2026 qualifying victory. Poland, with maximum points from two games, currently appears to be the Netherlands' main rival for direct qualification.  Finland, despite a strong desire to qualify for their first World Cup, faces an uphill battle after a 2-0 home loss to the Netherlands. While a win could reignite their hopes. 

Finland have also struggled at home, with four consecutive losses. Conversely, Poland, eyeing a third consecutive World Cup berth, comes in with confidence after back-to-back wins, though their recent away form has been inconsistent.

Out of 30 total matches, Poland boasts 19 wins compared to Finland's 3, with 8 matches ending in a draw. This dominance is further reflected in the goal difference, with Poland having scored 72 goals to Finland's 26.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Finland Preview

Finland enters their World Cup qualifiers in poor form, having lost all their Nations League matches and showing an unconvincing start to the current tournament. Their sole victory came with a narrow 1-0 win over Malta, followed by squandering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Lithuania. Most recently, they suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands, struggling to mount any meaningful attack.

Under new coach Jacob Friis, Finland, ranked 69th globally, aims for their first-ever World Cup appearance, but finishing in Group G's top two is crucial. Their squad lacks significant star power, with goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký (Bayer Leverkusen) being the most prominent, though his starting spot is uncertain. 

Hrádecký has been a standout performer, especially against Malta, making six crucial saves. Despite his individual efforts, Finland's recent home form is concerning, with four consecutive losses and only one win in their last ten games across all competitions. 

Another defeat to Poland, whom they haven't beaten in 19 years, would severely damage their qualification hopes, especially with the Netherlands and Poland likely vying for the top spot. 

Finland Probable Starting Lineup: Hradecky (Gk); Alho, Tenho, Ivanov, Uronen; Kamara, Kairinen; Lod, Jensen, Antman; Pohjanpalo

Poland Preview

Under Michal Probierz, Poland's attack has shown promise, consistently finding the net in recent Euro 2024 matches. However, defensive frailties have been a recurring issue, contributing to their Euro 2024 knockout stage exit and Nations League relegation. 

Despite this, they've started the current World Cup qualifying campaign with a focus on defense, keeping clean sheets against Lithuania (1-0) and Malta (2-0). Their recent friendly against Moldova also resulted in a 2-0 victory, though the performance was unconvincing.

Crucially, Poland will be without their star striker, Robert Lewandowski, who has announced he will not play for the national team as long as Probierz remains coach, citing fatigue and a "loss of trust." This decision stems from Probierz stripping Lewandowski of the captaincy. 

In his absence, Piotr Zielinski, now captain, and the likes of Krzysztof Piatek or Adam Buksa are expected to lead the line in a 3-5-2 formation. Despite this significant setback, Poland boasts an impressive record of 20 undefeated games in their last 23 WC Qualification UEFA encounters and has kept clean sheets in their last three WC Qualification UEFA games.

 Poland Probable Starting Lineup: Skorupski (Gk); Wieteska, Bednarek, Kiwior; Cash, Moder, Zielinski, Szymanski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Piatek

FINLAND vs POLAND
Winning Prediction

Poland is favored to win against Finland, despite playing away and the absence of Lewandowski. Their 100% record and solid defense in qualifiers, even against weaker opponents, suggest they can overcome Finland's recent struggles and poor home form, aiming for a crucial 1-0 or 2-0 victory to maintain their top spot.

Poland to Win (0-1)

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