Ukraine U-16 National Team Squad Announced
Head coach Volodymyr Samborsky has selected a 22-player squad for the Ukraine U-16 national team's upcoming international friendly tournament in Turkey. The competition is scheduled to run from January 22nd to February 1st, 2026. This tournament is a key part of the team's preparation cycle for upcoming competitive fixtures.
During their training camp in Side, the team is set to play three friendly matches. They will face the Czech Republic on January 26th, host nation Turkey on January 28th, and an opponent yet to be confirmed on January 31st. These games will provide crucial match experience against varied European opposition.
Full Team Roster
The Ukraine U-16 squad consists of the following players:
- Goalkeepers:
- Ihor Haldin ('Levante', Spain)
- Matvii Mikula ('Braga', Portugal)
- Artur Skakun ('Hertha', Germany)
- Defenders:
- Maksym Mysiura ('Shakhtar', Donetsk)
- Tymur Uhryk
- Kostiantyn Kyslianka ('Rukh', Lviv)
- Mykhailo Abramovych ('Gorica', Croatia)
- Bohdan Behmetyuk ('Milan', Italy)
- Yaroslav Kybukevych ('OFKIP-Polissia', Kyiv)
- Kyrylo Savchenko ('Hajduk', Croatia)
- Midfielders:
- Illia Byrladianu ('Shakhtar', Donetsk)
- Illia Ostrovskyi
- Denys Hordieiev ('Rukh', Lviv)
- Bohdan Pidhorodnyi
- Myroslav Donik (LNZ Cherkasy)
- Artem Kovbasiuk ('Kisvarda', Hungary)
- Danylo Malikov ('Fortuna', Germany)
- Bohdan Rudenko ('Slask', Poland)
- Forwards:
- Artem Fedushko
- Oleh Dziurinets
- Illia Bodak ('Rukh', Lviv)
- Yegor Shevchenko (LNZ Cherkasy)
This tournament also serves as preparation for a crucial World Cup qualifying playoff semi-final against Sweden on March 26th, 2026. A victory there would see Ukraine advance to a final against the winner of the Poland vs. Albania tie. The Ukrainian squad has already completed the first stage of European qualification for the 2026 World Cup and continues its active preparations for future challenges.
Participation in this friendly tournament in Turkey represents a vital step for the Ukraine U-16s as they build towards major competitive matches, including the World Cup playoff semi-final. Facing strong opponents like the Czech Republic and Turkey will allow the team to test their capabilities and formulate strategies for the next phases of qualification.