Ukraine is one win away from a place in the 2022 World Cup, and the war-torn country’s inspirational story will now face the moment of truth on Sunday against Wales.
Soccer is not the chief subject on the minds of Ukrainians while their nation is in the midst of war with Russia. Charging into the World Cup scene is a noted distraction from that reality, and is not lost on the players.
“When it comes to football, the Ukrainian team have our own dream,” star Oleksandr Zinchenko said this week. “We want to go to the World Cup, to give these incredible emotions to the people, because Ukrainians deserve it so much at this moment.
As for Wales, one loss to Belgium reduced Rob Page’s side to the playoff round. On Wednesday, the Welsh opened up their UEFA Nations League campaign with a 2-1 loss to Poland.
U.S. men’s national team fans will be watching Wales-Ukraine with additional interest, knowing the USMNT will face the winner in the opening match of the World Cup. The USMNT is also back in action on Sunday and looks for another impressive outing against an unfamiliar foe.
There was a lot to like about Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Morocco on Wednesday, but Uruguay was always the headliner of this window and should present a much stiffer test in Kansas City on Sunday.
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Here is a look at This Weekend’s Top 5 Matches to Watch, as well as a full rundown of This Weekend’s Soccer on TV and Online:
This Weekend’s Top 5 Matches to Watch
1. United States vs Uruguay – How will the USMNT look against a CONMEBOL powerhouse?
2. Wales vs Ukraine – There is no denying that the majority of the world wants to see Ukraine succeed, and Wales somehow has to put that aside. Is that possible?
3. Italy vs Germany – The headlining matchup of this weekend’s Uefa Nations League slate features an Italian side in desperate need of a statement win after losing 3-0 to Argentina on Wednesday in the Finalissima.
4. Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake – The lone MLS game of the weekend sees RSL looking to dig its heels into the Western Conference playoff picture.
5. Eibar vs Girona – The Spanish promotion/relegation battles play out this weekend. Eibar is looking to make its stay in the Segunda a brief one and needs to protect a 1-0 lead over Girona.
This Weekend’s Soccer on TV and Online
Friday
UEFA Nations League
10 a.m. – Fox Sports 2, fuboTV – Kazakhstan vs Azerbaijan
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Latvia vs Andorra
2:45 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – Croatia vs Austria
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – France vs Denmark
2:45 p.m. – Fox Sports 1, fuboTV – Belgium vs Netherlands
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Belarus vs Slovakia
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Liechtenstein vs Moldova
CONCACAF Nations League
4 p.m. – Paramount+ – Saint Martin vs Aruba
4 p.m. – Paramount+ – British Virgin Islands vs Cayman Islands
4:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Sint Maarten vs U.S. Virgin Islands
4:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Turks and Caicos Islands vs Bonaire
5 p.m. – Paramount+ – Bahamas vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
8 p.m. – Paramount+ – Curaçao vs Honduras
10 p.m. – Paramount+ – Nicaragua vs Trinidad and Tobago
NWSL
8:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Houston Dash vs Orlando Pride
10:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Portland Thorns vs Angel City
Argentine Primera División
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Barracas Central vs Central Córdoba SdE
Toulon Tournament
8 a.m. – fuboTV – Japan U19 vs Comoros U20
11:30 AM – fuboTV – Algeria U23 vs Colombia U19
African Cup of Nations Qualification
3 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Ivory Coast vs Zambia
USL Championship
9 p.m. – ESPN+ – Colorado Springs vs Las Vegas Lights
Saturday
UEFA Nations League
9 a.m. – Fox Sports 2, fuboTV – Armenia vs Ireland Republic
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Hungary vs England
12 p.m. – Fox Sports 2, fuboTV – Finland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
12 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – Lithuania vs Luxembourg
2:45 p.m. – Fox Sports 2, fuboTV – Italy vs Germany
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Montenegro vs Romania
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Turkey vs Faroe Islands
CONCACAF Nations League
5 p.m. – Paramount+ – Bermuda vs Haiti
7 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA – Suriname vs Jamaica
7:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Montserrat vs Guyana
10 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA – El Salvador vs Grenada
Major League Soccer
7 p.m. – ESPN+ – Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake
NWSL
3 p.m. – Paramount+ – Chicago Red Stars vs OL Reign
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – NJ/NY Gotham FC vs Washington Spirit
8 p.m. – Paramount+ – Racing Louisville FC vs North Carolina Courage
8:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Kansas City Current vs San Diego Wave
Argentine Primera División
1 p.m. – Paramount+ – San Lorenzo vs Independiente
1 p.m. – Paramount+ – Atlético Tucumán vs Colón
3:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Banfield vs Newell’s Old Boys
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Patronato vs Vélez Sarsfield
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Platense vs Godoy Cruz
8:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Racing Club vs Huracán
Brasileirão
3:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – América Mineiro vs Cuiabá
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Ceará vs Coritiba
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Avaí vs São Paulo
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – Athletico-PR vs Santos
7:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Atlético Goianiense vs Corinthians
Canadian Premier League
2 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – HFX Wanderers vs York United
Canadian Championship
7 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – Forge vs Toronto FC
Toulon Tournament
8 a.m. – fuboTV – Saudi Arabia U20 vs Panama U23
Africa – Africa Cup of Nations Qualification
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Gambia vs South Sudan
3 p.m. – fuboTV – Algeria vs Uganda
3 p.m. – fuboTV – Mauritania vs Sudan
3 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Senegal vs Benin
Spanish Segunda
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Las Palmas vs Tenerife
USL Championship
7 p.m. – ESPN+ – Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs Detroit City
7 p.m. – ESPN+ – Charleston Battery vs Indy Eleven
7:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Louisville City
8:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Memphis 901 vs Atlanta United II
8:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Rio Grande Valley vs LA Galaxy II
8:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – FC Tulsa vs Miami FC
9 p.m. – ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, fuboTV – Orange County SC vs New Mexico United
9:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – El Paso Locomotive vs Hartford Athletic
10 p.m. – ESPN+ – Monterey Bay vs Oakland Roots
10:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Phoenix Rising vs Birmingham Legion
11 p.m. – ESPN+ – Sacramento Republic vs San Antonio
MLS Next Pro
6 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Colorado Rapids II vs North Texas
7 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Inter Miami II vs New England II
7 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Orlando City B vs New York City II
8 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Chicago Fire II vs Columbus Crew II
8 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Sporting Kansas City II vs Minnesota United II
8 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – St. Louis City II vs Houston Dynamo FC II
10 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Tacoma Defiance vs San Jose Earthquakes II
USL League One
6:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Richmond Kickers vs Tormenta
7 p.m. – ESPN+ – Greenville Triumph vs Charlotte Independence
7:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Chattanooga Red Wolves vs Union Omaha
8 p.m. – ESPN+ – Forward Madison vs Tucson
Sunday
UEFA Nations League
9 a.m. – fuboTV – San Marino vs Malta
12 p.m. – fuboTV – Cyprus vs Northern Ireland
12 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – Gibraltar vs North Macedonia
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Czech Republic vs Spain
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Portugal vs Switzerland
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Serbia vs Slovenia
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Sweden vs Norway
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Kosovo vs Greece
2:45 p.m. – fuboTV – Bulgaria vs Georgia
World Cup Qualifying
12 p.m. – ESPN2, ESPN+, fuboTV – Wales vs Ukraine
Men’s International Friendly
11:30 a.m. – fuboTV, FOX Deportes – Peru vs New Zealand
5 p.m. – FOX Network, fuboTV, TUDN USA – United States vs Uruguay
7:30 p.m. – fuboTV, TUDN USA, Univision – Mexico vs Ecuador
CONCACAF Nations League
1 p.m. – Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA – Costa Rica vs Martinique
3 p.m. – Paramount+ – Guatemala vs Belize
3 p.m. – Paramount+ – Dominica vs Anguilla
4 p.m. – Paramount+ – Cuba vs Barbados
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Antigua and Barbuda vs Guadeloupe
7 p.m. – Paramount+ – Dominican Republic vs French Guiana
Argentine Primera División
12 p.m. – Paramount+ – Talleres Córdoba vs Sarmiento
1 p.m. – Paramount+ – Unión Santa Fe vs Tigre
4 p.m. – Paramount+ – Estudiantes vs Gimnasia La Plata
6:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Boca Juniors vs Arsenal
8:30 p.m. – Paramount+ – Defensa y Justicia vs River Plate
Brasileirão
10 a.m. – Paramount+ – Juventude vs Fluminense
3 p.m. – Paramount+ – Flamengo vs Fortaleza
3 p.m. – Paramount+ – Palmeiras vs Atlético Mineiro
6 p.m. – Paramount+ – RB Bragantino vs Internacional
Toulon Tournament
8 a.m. – fuboTV – Venezuela U23 vs Ghana U20
11:30 a.m. – fuboTV – Mexico U21 vs Indonesia U19
African Cup of Nations Qualification
9 a.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Central African Republic vs Ghana
9 a.m. – fuboTV – Botswana vs Tunisia
3 p.m. – beIN SPORTS, fuboTV – Egypt vs Guinea
Spanish Segunda
12:30 p.m. – ESPN+ – Eibar vs Girona
MLS Next Pro
8 p.m. – MLS Next Pro – Whitecaps II vs Real Monarchs