A New Stage for the National Team
The Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) and Serhiy Rebrov have mutually agreed to terminate their cooperation, under which Rebrov held the position of head coach of the Ukraine national team. His tenure in this role, which began in June 2023, lasted almost three years. Under Rebrov's leadership, the team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, finishing their qualifying journey in the semifinals of the playoffs, losing to Sweden 1-3. The only goal in that match was scored by debutant Ponomarenko, while Jokeres from London’s Arsenal scored a hat-trick.
As he leaves his position, Serhiy Rebrov expressed gratitude:
'I am grateful to the whole team and the fans for the stage we passed together. It was a challenging journey with victories and defeats, but the Ukrainians always supported the national team. I will never forget these moments of unity and will always be thankful for them. I also thank UAF for their constant assistance, support, and collaboration.' - Serhiy Rebrov
Despite leaving the coaching role, Rebrov retains the position of UAF vice-president and remains a member of the executive committee of the association.
New Equipment and Future Tasks
Alongside the personnel changes, a new away kit for the Ukraine national team from Adidas was announced. After more than thirty years, the Adidas Originals Trefoil (three-leaf) logo has reappeared on it. The shirt is made in a rich blue color with a geometric pattern on the chest and shoulders. For Russian fans, the Ukrainian team traditionally remains one of the main rivals in qualifying tournaments. The team will start its season in the Nations League on September 25 with an away match against Hungary. As a result of the Nations League draw for the 2026/27 season, Ukraine ended up in group B2, where its opponents will be:
- Hungary
- Georgia
- Northern Ireland
The winner of this group will be promoted to Division A of the Nations League.
Andriy Shevchenko, commenting on Rebrov's departure, noted:
'We thank Serhiy Stanislavovych for his work, his contribution to the development of young footballers. Today we need to move forward and make new decisions that will lay the foundation for the future of the national team.' - Andriy Shevchenko
The change in the coaching staff reflects the need for the team to adapt to the modern challenges of world football, especially in light of preparations for future tournaments. UAF intends to find a specialist capable of unleashing the potential of young players and increasing the team’s competitiveness. An important symbolic event has been the presentation of the new kit, which embodies the renewal and readiness of the team to compete in the Nations League. Against the backdrop of management changes, fans are eagerly awaiting results from the new strategy and team play.
With the termination of the cooperation with Serhiy Rebrov, UAF faces the important choice of a new coach who will lead the Ukraine national team in upcoming tournaments. Who can take Rebrov's place and what changes await the team? These questions concern many fans, as they determine the future of Ukrainian football.