Ukraine's Youth National Team: Roster and Preparation for International Friendlies
Unai Melgosa, the head coach of Ukraine's under-21 side, has announced the squad that will take part in a training camp and two exhibition matches. The camp is scheduled to begin on May 31 in Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia, ahead of games against the United States on June 5 and Japan on June 8.
The Ukrainian U-21 roster features three goalkeepers:
- Illia Popovych (Kisvárda, Hungary)
- Vladyslav Krapyvtsov (Girona, Spain)
- Illia Voloshyn (Real Madrid, Spain)
The defensive lineup includes:
- Oleksii Husiev (Kudrivka)
- Serhii Korniichuk (Veres Rivne)
- Volodymyr Vilivald (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih)
- Illia Krupskyi (Metalist 1925 Kharkiv)
- Vladyslav Zakharchenko (Dynamo Kyiv)
- Maksym Korobov (Dynamo Kyiv)
- Vladyslav Kysil (Ponferradina, Spain)
- Vitalii Kholod (Karpaty Lviv)
The midfield is composed of:
- Andrii Matkevych (Dynamo Kyiv)
- Yaroslav Shevchenko (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih)
- Artem Husol (Kolos Kovalivka)
- Yevhenii Pastukh (LNZ Cherkasy)
- Oleh Fedor (Polissia Zhytomyr)
- Timur Tutierov (Sunderland, England)
- Ivan Varfolomieiev (Lincoln, England)
- Danylo Krevsun (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
- Anton Tsarenko (Lechia Gdańsk, Poland)
- Ruslan Vydysh (Gent, Belgium)
The forward line consists of:
- Oleksandr Pyshchur (Győr, Hungary)
- Vadym Sydun (Epitsentr Kamianets-Podilskyi)
World Cup 2026 Draw and Ukraine's Playoff Loss to Sweden
In other news, Ukraine's senior team suffered a 1-3 defeat against Sweden in the World Cup 2026 playoff semifinal. Sweden's Viktor Gyökeres scored in the 6th, 51st, and 72nd minutes, while Ukraine's Ponomarenko managed a consolation goal in the 90+1 minute. The loss highlights ongoing challenges for the national side.
The group stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has also been set. Group A features:
- Mexico
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Czech Republic
Group B consists of:
- Canada
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Qatar
- Switzerland
Group C includes:
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Haiti
- Scotland
Group D will feature:
- United States
- Paraguay
- Australia
- Turkey
Group E includes:
- Germany
- Curaçao
- Ivory Coast
- Ecuador
Group F consists of:
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Sweden
- Tunisia
Group G features:
- Belgium
- Egypt
- Iran
- New Zealand
Group H includes:
- Spain
- Cape Verde
- Saudi Arabia
- Uruguay
Group I consists of:
- France
- Senegal
- Iraq
- Norway
Group J features:
- Argentina
- Algeria
- Austria
- Jordan
Group K includes:
- Portugal
- DR Congo
- Uzbekistan
- Colombia
Group L consists of:
- England
- Croatia
- Ghana
- Panama
The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, will advance to the Round of 16.
These two friendlies are a key part of Ukraine's U-21 preparations for future tournaments, especially the Euro 2026 qualifiers. They give the coaching staff a chance to evaluate players and their readiness for international competition. Meanwhile, the senior team's playoff defeat to Sweden underscores the need for further development to boost competitiveness on the global stage.
As preparations for the upcoming friendlies intensify, it's worth noting that Ukraine's minifootball team has also been gearing up for their own challenges. They recently discovered their opponents for the Euro 2026 tournament, which adds another layer of excitement for Ukrainian sports fans. You can find more details on their upcoming matches and opponents here.