The Ukraine squad had to climb out of a war zone and navigate multiple border controls, trains and flights just to reach Antalya for the match with England. By the time they arrived, global events had shifted again — a US strike on Iran and retaliatory actions threatened wider instability in the region. Still, the Ukrainian players arrived focused on one aim: proving they belong among Europe’s best.
They showed that in a stubborn, disciplined first half, going into the break level with the back-to-back European champions. The second half didn’t unfold as planned for them, but the joy was real when Yana Kalinina scored — a celebration shared across the entire away dugout.
After the final whistle, players from both teams exchanged shirts, selfies and stories. The Lionesses had said they wanted the fixture to be an act of unity; for the players on the pitch and those who travelled, it very much was.
Why was the match staged in Turkey? Ukraine’s designated home fixture against England could not be held in their own country because of the ongoing war with Russia. Concerns about safety, compounded by fresh tensions in the Middle East involving the US, Iran and Israel, made Turkey the practical venue. England’s squad were given formal security assurances and remained in regular contact with the UK government.
The regional uncertainty also affected media coverage. Almost all UK outlets opted not to send staff to a country close to the unfolding Middle East events. The day before the match an unmanned Iranian drone struck an RAF base in Cyprus — roughly 180 miles from England’s hotel — which underscored the caution. As a result, media access in Antalya was minimal: when Sarina Wiegman and Georgia Stanway faced the press they were met by only two cameras and a lone reporter.
Coverage had grown alongside the team’s success in recent years, so the sparse press presence felt surreal. The small pool of journalists persevered — conducting interviews and filing copy — while colleagues back in the UK and a Sky camera operator who could not leave Britain stepped up to make match coverage possible. The makeshift effort from those on the ground and teams working remotely ensured the Lionesses received the attention their performance deserved despite limited resources.
Credit should also go to the fans who travelled. More than 250 England supporters and a few dozen Ukrainian fans turned up at a rather remote stadium on the outskirts of Turkey’s eighth-largest city. The England players made a point of acknowledging that travelling contingent after the game, showing appreciation for supporters who had accepted uncertainty to be there.
Local match security reflected the cautious mood: roughly 75 police in riot gear and about 50 stewards were positioned around the fans’ end, guarding entrances and perimeters. By the end of the contest, however, those officers were smiling and applauding alongside the crowd as Jess Park curled in England’s sixth goal.
Despite the travel, tension and a thin press pack, Georgia Stanway’s line felt right: football can bring people together. In Antalya, on an uneasy week for global security, the game offered a rare, clear moment of unity.