Ukrainian Girls’ Team Triumphs at UEFA Development Tournament
Ukraine’s women’s under-16 squad secured a 2-1 win against Montenegro at the UEFA Development Tournament, currently being hosted in Montenegro. This match marked the team’s second appearance in the competition. Ukraine entered halftime with a 1-0 lead, but Montenegro managed to equalize early in the second half before Ukraine regained the advantage.
For Ukraine, goals came from Voloshchuk in the 28th minute and Paskarenko in the 72nd minute. Montenegro’s only response was a strike by Jovović in the 53rd minute. The victory highlights the Ukrainian girls’ strong performance on the international stage.
World Cup 2026 Qualification Groups Now Set
Meanwhile, all participants for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been confirmed as part of the tournament’s preparation phase. The group stage lineup is as follows:
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
- Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
- Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
- Groups E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L are also complete, featuring national teams including Germany, Japan, Spain, France, and others.
Notably, Ukraine’s senior women’s national team failed to advance past the World Cup playoff semifinals, losing 3-1 to Sweden. In that match, Ponomarenko scored Ukraine’s only goal in the 91st minute, while Gyökeres netted a hat-trick to secure Sweden’s victory.
Despite this setback, the U-16 girls’ team continues to impress fans with positive results in international competition, signaling the growing potential of Ukrainian women’s football. The senior squad, for its part, is determined to learn from past experiences and improve its performance in future matches, as competition at the global level remains fierce.
In addition to their recent victory over Montenegro, the Ukrainian U-16 girls’ team previously showcased their skills by overcoming Turkey in a thrilling penalty shootout. This match not only demonstrated their resilience but also highlighted their growing prowess on the international stage. For more details on that intense encounter, you can read about Ukraine's U-16 girls' impressive win against Turkey.