Following the end of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament, Krychowiak helped Poland earn a total of ten points in the FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group E. He captained Poland for the first time, playing 45 minutes before being substituted in a 1–1 draw against Slovenia. He later helped the national side qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In May 2018, he was named in Poland's preliminary 35-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Russia and later made the cut to be included in the 23 man squad. In the 2018 World Cup match against Senegal, Krychowiak caused M'Baye Niang's goal to give Senegal a 2–0 lead. After that error, he scored a goal himself, but Poland still lost 2–1 and they were later eliminated from the competition.