In this work we have applied machine learning methods (Extra Trees, Ridge Regression and Neural Networks) to predict structural parameters of the system based on its XANES spectrum. We used two ML approaches: direct one, i.e. when ML model is trained to predict the structural parameters directly from the XANES spectrum and inverse one when ML model is used to approximate spectrum as a function of structural parameters. We show the applicability of several ML approaches to predict the geometry of CO2 molecule adsorbed on Ni2+ surface sites hosted in the channels of CPO-27-Ni metal-organic framework. Quantitative fitting is based on difference XANES spectra and we discuss advantages and disadvantages of the two ML approaches and critically examine the overfitting phenomenon, caused by systematic differences of experimental data and learning dataset. •Machine learning methods were applied for quantitative analysis of XANES spectra.•Distance and bond angle in molecular adsoprtion were predicted.•Direct and inverse mashine learning methods have been proposed.•Extra Trees, Neural Network and Ridge Regression methods were compared.•Extra Trees method showed best agreement with experimental data.