Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the international friendly match.
With one year to go before the 2026 World Cup kicks off on home turf, Canada welcome Ukraine to Toronto for a friendly encounter. Despite having a more balanced and high-profile squad, Ukraine are being underestimated by bookmakers — a key point for those evaluating betting opportunities.
Canada
In their most recent international appearance, Canada were eliminated at the semi-finals stage of the CONCACAF Nations League following a 2:0 defeat to Mexico. Mexico looked far more dangerous going forward, registering 1.38 xG compared to Canada’s 0.72, although the Canadian side enjoyed greater possession (57% to 43%). A significant concern for Canada is the injury absence of Alphonso Davies, who will be unavailable for the June fixtures. Additionally, Jonathan David’s future remains uncertain amid transfer rumours, which could have an impact on his concentration.
Ukraine
For Ukraine, the most notable omission is the suspended Mykhailo Mudryk. Even without him, Ukraine nearly pulled off a major upset by pushing Belgium to the limit in the UEFA Nations League elite division, narrowly losing 4:3 on aggregate. In the second leg on neutral ground in Murcia (3:1), Ukraine overcame two forced substitutions due to injury, with Oleksiy Gutsulyak and Vladyslav Vanat coming off the bench to score. It seems Ukraine have found effective solutions across the pitch, and the squad will be motivated to deliver a strong performance at one of the venues for the upcoming major tournament.
Canada vs Ukraine Prediction
The only previous encounter between Canada and Ukraine ended in a 2:2 draw 15 years ago. A double chance on Ukraine is worth considering — they appear to have enough quality to avoid defeat.
