Goncharenko's streak faces Syrian surge: prediction for Belarus vs Syria - 05.06.2026
This Friday, the Dynamo Stadium in Minsk will host a friendly clash as Belarus welcomes Syria. The home side will look to extend their winning start under Viktor Goncharenko, while the visitors arrive on the back of a spectacular, high-scoring win and are hungry to claim their first-ever victory over the "White Wings."
- See also: Testing ambitions ahead of the Nations League: prediction for Slovakia vs Montenegro - 05.06.2026
Belarus: a reboot after a grueling qualification run
Belarus endured a brutal second half of 2025, failing to win any of their seven matches. In World Cup qualifying, the team collected far too few points, finished bottom of Group C, and once again missed out on a maiden appearance at a major global tournament.
But since Viktor Goncharenko took charge, the outlook has stabilized considerably: Belarus edged Cyprus 1-0, then followed that up with a more impressive 2-1 victory over Armenia. Now, the coach has a chance to deliver a third consecutive win - a feat Belarus hasn't managed since early 2025.
Syria: Afghanistan rout signals growing ambition
Syria may have also missed out on World Cup qualification, but their recent form is solid. In March, José Lána's squad dispatched Afghanistan with a resounding 5-1 win, topping Group E in Asian Cup qualification.
That triumph marked Syria’s sixth victory in their last ten outings, with three draws and just a single defeat - a narrow 0-1 loss to Morocco in the Arab Nations Cup quarterfinals. A trip to Minsk, however, presents a unique challenge: in their only previous meeting with Belarus, the Syrians fell 0-1. Now, they’ll be eager to rewrite the head-to-head history.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Belarus have won their first two matches under Viktor Goncharenko, defeating Cyprus 1-0 and Armenia 2-1.
- Syria thrashed Afghanistan 5-1 in their most recent match and secured first place in Group E of Asian Cup qualifying.
- The only previous encounter between these teams came in 2022, with Belarus edging it 1-0.
Prediction
Belarus come into the match riding a rare wave of positivity: a new coach has delivered instant results, and the win over Armenia should have bolstered the squad’s belief in their game plan. Goncharenko is unlikely to tinker with a working formula, especially with the experience of Ebong and Yablonski in midfield providing crucial balance.
Syria are dangerous in their current form, and after putting five past Afghanistan, they’ll surely attack with confidence - especially if Mohammed Al-Mustafa starts. However, home advantage, Belarus's fresher momentum, and Goncharenko’s determination to maintain a perfect start make the hosts the slightly more convincing pick.
