Canada vs Ukraine Prediction: Canucks may have the greater motivation

Fresh from claiming the bronze medal in the Concacaf Nations League with victory in their third-place match against the United States of America in March, Canada get their preparations underway for the Concacaf Gold Cup, which takes place later this month. The Canucks have two warm-up matches in the next five days, starting with a home showdown with Ukraine at BMO Field on Saturday (20:30 BST), before the Ivory Coast head to Toronto to give them another examination on Wednesday.

Jesse Marsch’s side will be looking to put in a positive showing against the Ukrainians, who were beaten 3-0 away at Belgium when last in action in March, meaning that they are set to stay in League B of the Nations League. Below are my Canada vs Ukraine predictions, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Having been sidelined for Bayern Munich since March as he recovers from an ACL injury, Canada captain Alphonso Davies is a notable absentee, while Moise Bombito and Alistair Johnston were considered surprise omissions from the squad.

Football Odds

Cyle Larin gets set to make his 81st cap, while there is a first call-up for Union Saint-Gilloise forward Promise Akinpelu. Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi are also set to play key roles for the Canadians.

Vitalii Mykolenko suffered a thigh injury in Ukraine’s latest defeat to Belgium in March and misses out alongside Andriy Yarmolenko, although Mykola Mykhaylenko, Artem Bondarenko and Oleksandr Martynyuk are all in the squad for the first time.

Canada vs Ukraine Odds

Canada have suffered just one defeat in their previous six competitive fixtures and they are 11/10 to have the measure of Ukraine, who are 11/5 to get back to winning ways.

These two played out a 2-2 draw in their only previous meeting in a friendly in 2010, and it is 11/5 for a repeat scenario.

It is 8/11 for both teams to score again in their latest rivalry, while under 2.5 goals is a 4/5 chance

Canada to win @ 23/20

Marsch’s men have lost just one of their last six competitive fixtures, and they are undefeated on home soil in Canada since November 2023, when they endured a 3-2 defeat to Jamaica at BMO Field.

With the Concacaf Gold Cup on the horizon, Canada are likely to be taking this more seriously than Ukraine, and under former Leeds United manager Marsch, they have gone on to win every match in which they have scored the opening goal.

Ukraine’s next aim will be the upcoming World Cup in 2026, but qualifying doesn’t get underway until September, and many of their players will be feeling the impacts of gruelling league campaigns.

A 3-0 loss at Belgium in March cost Ukraine their place in League A of next season’s Nations League - they had won the home leg 3-1 - and four of their five defeats since June last year have come on their travels.

Jonathan David anytime goalscorer @ 13/8

Lille forward Jonathan David has scored 27 goals in 49 appearances for club and country this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see some of Europe’s elite soon come calling for the services of the 25-year-old.

David has already been capped 61 times by Canada and has rewarded his nation with 32 goals, showing his importance to the Canucks not only now but going forward.

His pace and power is sure to cause problems for Ukraine, who have kept only one clean sheet in their last eight internationals.

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