Children's football academies were evaluated based on their coaching staff, age coverage, parent feedback, family engagement, and other indicators. The top five academies in the Ukrainian Business Award 2026 ranking included Dynamo, Shakhtar, Chornomorets, Lokomotyv, and Karpaty. This is reported by UBA. The development of young players is also important for the future of the Ukrainian national team.
Top-5 Children's Football Academies in Ukraine in 2026
1. Dynamo
The Kyiv Dynamo academy ranked first with a score of 15.77 points. It trains footballers up to 19 years old, has 25 coaches, and is distinguished by the highest brand recognition among the ranking participants. Among its advantages are also high website traffic and strong parent engagement ratings.
2. Shakhtar
The Shakhtar academy received 12.56 points. It works with players up to 19 years old, has 28 coaches, and a 26-year history. The jury gave it the highest score among all participants – 9.6 points. The academy also has a developed partnership network and strong positions in parent feedback.
3. Chornomorets
Odesa's Chornomorets scored 10.72 points and took third place. The academy has the longest history among ranking participants – 52 years – and the largest coaching staff, which consists of 43 specialists. It trains players up to 19 years old, and years of work have allowed it to nurture several generations of footballers.
Opportunities for young players are also expanding thanks to club schools, among which is LNZ academy.
4. Lokomotyv
Kyiv's Lokomotyv academy ranked fourth with a score of 9.94 points. It has been operating for only four years but already has the best parent reviews in the ranking. The academy trains children up to 19 years old, has 15 coaches, and demonstrates that a new school can quickly gain the trust of families.
5. Karpaty
The Karpaty academy in Lviv received 7.91 points and rounded out the top five. It has a 19-year history, ten coaches, and trains footballers up to 17 years old. Among the advantages noted in the ranking are a user-friendly website with the highest rating for speed and accessibility of information for parents. Graduates of the academies may later join the youth national teams of Ukraine.