The Polish national football team is gearing up for crucial qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beginning with a contest against Lithuania on March 21, 2025, at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw. This comes after a tumultuous 2024 season where the team failed to advance past the group stages of Euro 2024. Poland’s difficulties continued in the UEFA Nations League, where they were relegated from Division A after a disappointing campaign.
Despite the setbacks, there is optimism surrounding the upcoming qualifiers. According to coach Michał Probierz, the players are in good spirits. “I see positivity among the players, great moods. We are definitely ready to win our next two matches,” he stated, expressing confidence ahead of the team’s opening match.
Poland’s road to the World Cup pits them directly against a Lithuania team currently ranked 142nd in the FIFA ranking and relegated from Division C to Division D in fall 2024. With Lithuania having lost all their matches in the current edition, Poland’s expectations are high, and anything but a victory would be deemed a major upset.
Three days after facing Lithuania, the Polish team will take on Malta, ranked 168th in the world, also at PGE Narodowy. This double-header is crucial for Poland, as they aim to secure a top position in the qualifying group that includes Finland and the loser of the upcoming League of Nations quarter-final between Spain and the Netherlands.
From their recent training camp, which commenced on March 17, 2025, the atmosphere is buoyed by the return of key players like Robert Lewandowski, who had missed the prior training session due to other commitments. Lewandowski, the captain, is expected to make a significant impact, especially given his current form in Barcelona this season.
Despite the positivity surrounding the team’s morale, there have been notable absences due to injuries. Paweł Dawidowicz will miss the match against Lithuania for health reasons but may return for the Malta game. Sebastian Walukiewicz and key midfielders Piotr Zieliński and Nicola Zalewski also remain sidelined due to injuries, presenting challenges for Probierz’s squad.
The importance of these qualifiers cannot be overstated. The winners of the 12 qualifying groups will earn a direct berth to the World Cup set to be held in 2026 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Meanwhile, 16 teams will fight for the remaining four World Cup spots in playoff matches scheduled for March 2026.
Polls indicate a mixed outlook for Poland’s chances as they navigate their path to the World Cup. According to a recent survey conducted for Wprost by SW Research, over 50 percent of respondents believe that Poland will not qualify for the tournament, while nearly 30 percent are optimistic about the team making it. About 20 percent of those surveyed remain undecided.
The Polish national team, historically, has participated in nine World Cups, with a mixed record that includes 17 wins, six draws, and 15 losses over 38 matches. Their best performances were third-place finishes in 1974 and 1982. Notably, in 2022 they finally progressed past the group stage for the first time since 1986, but faced elimination in the round of 16 against France.
As the matches approach, the Polish fans are ready to rally behind their team, with arrangements for organized cheering expected to enhance the atmosphere at PGE Narodowy. This support could be vital in turning the tides for the Polish team as they embark on this challenging journey towards the World Cup.