Kazakhstan vs Moldova Prediction & Preview - UEFA Nations League
Moldova have not won a competitive match since November 2024, a run that has now reached 17 games. Their 1-1 draw with the Faroe Islands on 29 September kept that streak alive rather than ending it, and it came three days after a 2-0 defeat to Slovakia. Kazakhstan have problems of their own heading into this UEFA Nations League meeting at the Astana Arena on Friday, 2 October 2026.
- Fixture: Kazakhstan vs Moldova
- Competition: UEFA Nations League
- Date: Friday, 2 October 2026
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST
- Venue: Astana Arena, Astana
Moldova's wait goes on
Manager Lilian Popescu is still without Ion Nicolaescu, Moldova's record goalscorer, who ruptured a cruciate ligament in December 2025 and has not played since. Moldova were shut out entirely in the 2-0 loss to Slovakia on 26 September before salvaging a point against the Faroe Islands three days later. Seventeen games without a win is a long stretch for any side, and nothing in that run suggests it ends here.
Kazakhstan's own flat September
John van 't Schip's side were held 1-1 by the Faroe Islands on 26 September, then lost 2-1 to Slovakia three days after that. Midfielder Islambek Kuat was forced off with a muscle injury in the Slovakia game and is a doubt for Friday, while 18-year-old striker Dastan Satpaev is out with a thigh problem. Damir Kasabulat is the likely replacement in midfield alongside Zhasulan Amir and Nauryzbek Zhagorov, with Ramazan Karimov expected to lead the attack supported by Dinmukhamed Karaman.
What the shared opponents show
Both teams have now faced Slovakia and the Faroe Islands in this campaign, and the numbers lean towards Kazakhstan by a narrow margin. Each drew 1-1 with the Faroe Islands, but Kazakhstan at least scored against Slovakia in their 2-1 defeat, while Moldova were shut out in theirs. Neither country has beaten either of those sides this campaign.
The wider form picture
Further back, both nations have had mixed results rather than poor ones. Kazakhstan won both FIFA Series fixtures in March, beating Namibia 2-0 and Comoros 1-0, then drew 1-1 with Armenia in June before losing 3-1 to Hungary. Moldova drew 2-2 with Bulgaria and 1-1 with Armenia across the same summer window, either side of defeats to Cyprus (3-2) and Lithuania (0-2).
Kazakhstan vs Moldova prediction
Kazakhstan should edge a tight UEFA Nations League meeting with Moldova on Friday, with neither side arriving in convincing form. Moldova's 17-match winless run and the absence of record scorer Ion Nicolaescu count against them more than anything in Kazakhstan's own stuttering September. Kazakhstan at least found the net against Slovakia when Moldova could not, and that difference should be enough across 90 minutes in Astana.
Our prediction: Kazakhstan 2-1 Moldova
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