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Poland are set to face New Zealand in a friendly on Thursday in Chorzów before resuming their campaign in the UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers next week. As lineups were confirmed for both sides at the Silesian Stadium, eyebrows were raised when star forward Robert Lewandowski was nowhere to be seen in the starting XI.
Lewandowski will start the game against New Zealand on the bench, a technical decision made by head coach Jan Urban. The Polish striker has been dealing with fitness issues since the start of the 2025–26 season, and with this being only a friendly, the former Osasuna manager decided to give his star forward some rest.
Quick take: Big picture: the update fits broader trends across the league with schedule pressure and tight tables. Supporters will watch for clarity from training ground reports and official briefings. We’ll keep an eye on confirmed details as the story develops from official sources.
FIFA World Cup
