Epitsentr Returns to Its Hometown
For the 2026/27 Ukrainian Premier League season, FC Epitsentr will play its home matches at the Tonkocheyev Stadium in Kamianets-Podilskyi, as announced by the club. This move marks the team's return to its hometown, a decision the club believes will energize both players and fans. Club representatives stated,
“the stands of our home arena will always be full, and our team will delight supporters with lightning-fast play and positive results.”The management expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this return possible.
During its debut UPL season, Epitsentr hosted opponents in Ternopil and Kyiv, but now aims to strengthen its roots in Kamianets-Podilskyi. The first match of the 2026/27 season is scheduled for August 1, when Epitsentr faces Kyiv-based Obolon. This fixture represents a key moment for a team eager to showcase its ambitions in the new campaign.
UPL Matchday 1 Schedule
Meanwhile, the opening round of the UPL features several other intriguing matchups. The full schedule for Matchday 1 is as follows:
- Kryvbas vs. Karpaty
- Bukovyna vs. LNZ
- Dynamo vs. Livyi Bereh
- Zorya vs. Kolos
- Kharkiv vs. Veres
- Kudrivka vs. Shakhtar
- Chornomorets vs. Polissia
- Epitsentr vs. Obolon
Reigning champions Shakhtar will begin their title defense with an away game against Kudrivka, while Dynamo faces city rivals Livyi Bereh in a Kyiv derby.
The classic Shakhtar-Dynamo showdown is set for matchweeks 12 and 27. The first encounter takes place on November 7 with Shakhtar as hosts, while the second is tentatively scheduled for May 15, with Dynamo playing at home.
Additionally, as part of the buildup to the new season, a list of the best UPL coaches from 2008/09 to 2025/26 has been released. Mircea Lucescu holds the record with seven awards, followed by other notable managers such as Serhii Rebrov, Paulo Fonseca, Oleksandr Khatskevych, and Viktor Skrypnyk.
FC Epitsentr and other teams are gearing up for the season's challenges, with players hopeful that the changes will yield positive results on the pitch.
Epitsentr's return to Kamianets-Podilskyi underscores the club's deep connection to its hometown, a factor that could boost team performance through strong local fan support. At the same time, the UPL competition promises to be intense, with numerous high-stakes matches likely to reshape the league's power dynamics.
As Obolon faces challenges due to stadium renovations, Epitsentr's return to its hometown highlights the contrasting fortunes of teams in the league. While one club is navigating away games, Epitsentr is gearing up for its first match at the newly embraced Tonkocheyev Stadium, aiming to create a vibrant atmosphere for fans and players alike.