Poland vs Lithuania

Poland’s road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts at the PGE Narodowy with a must-win clash against sub-par Lithuania. 

Poland endured an underwhelming spell, finishing last in Euro 2024 Group D without a win before being relegated from the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League Group A1 (W1, D1, L4). Desperate for a fresh start, they kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign against Group G’s lowest-ranked sides, offering a prime chance to end a five-game winless run (D1, L4). Facing Lithuania in a first competitive H2H since 2018, the Eagles can take confidence from their previous World Cup qualifying cycle (W6, D2, L2) and an impressive home record, winning nine of their last 11 World Cup qualifiers (D1, L1). It’s also worth noting that Michal Probierz’s men have bagged 3+ goals in seven of their most recent 11 World Cup qualifiers on home soil. 

On the other hand, Lithuania have never qualified for a major tournament, managing just two wins in their last 18 World Cup qualifying games (D3, L13). Their struggles continued in the Nations League, where they endured a winless campaign in Group C2, suffering six consecutive defeats and facing relegation. Despite their poor record, recent performances show slight improvement. Five of their last six losses came by a single-goal margin, and they found the net in four of their five outings in the build-up to this clash. However, their away form in World Cup qualifying remains a massive concern, with seven defeats in their last eight matches (D1), all without scoring.