Ilya Prykhodko's Historic Debut at Euro 2026
On January 25, 2026, 18-year-old Ilya Prykhodko made history by becoming the youngest player ever to appear in a European Futsal Championship match. His debut for Ukraine was a successful one, contributing an assist for Danyil Abakshin in a commanding 4:1 victory over Lithuania. At 18 years and 72 days old, Prykhodko's immediate impact signals a bright future for Ukrainian futsal.
Match Breakdown
Ukraine dominated the match from the start, with Ihor Cherniavskyi opening the scoring in the 7th minute. Vladyslav Pervieiev extended the lead just six minutes later. Ihor Korsun added a third goal in the 23rd minute, assisted by goalkeeper Oleksandr Sukhov, before Danyil Abakshin scored the fourth on 33 minutes from Prykhodko's pass. Lithuania's sole reply came from Volodymyr Derendiaiev in the 36th minute.
This result marks Ukraine's first win at Euro 2026. The team's next group stage match is against the Czech Republic on January 28, 2026, at 20:30 Kyiv time. Futsal, the fast-paced indoor version of football, requires immense technical skill and teamwork at this elite level. A draw in that final group game will be sufficient for Ukraine to secure a place in the tournament's quarter-finals.
Prykhodko's record-breaking debut has generated significant optimism for Ukraine's campaign. The convincing win over Lithuania provides crucial momentum, and the team now approaches the decisive fixture against the Czech Republic with heightened confidence. Successfully navigating that match to advance would represent a major achievement for the Ukrainian side.