Euro 2026 Quarterfinal Berth Secured
Ukraine's national sokqa team has advanced to the quarterfinals of Euro 2026 after a dominant 3-0 victory over Montenegro in the Round of 16. Anton Ross found the net twice, scoring in the 8th and 39th minutes, while Vitaliy Hoshkoderya added a goal in the 26th minute. The quarterfinal match, where Ukraine will face Spain, is scheduled for May 23, 2026, with a kickoff at 23:00 Kyiv time.
Ukraine's Squad Roster
The Ukrainian squad competing in the tournament includes goalkeepers Roman Pazenko and Oleksandr Poslavskyi, along with the following field players:
- Serhiy Maksymets
- Serhiy Hybal
- Anton Ross
- Dmytro Melnychuk
- Yevhen Melnychuk
- Mykyta Komisar
- Vitaliy Kuzmak
- Kyrylo Duchiev
- Oleksander Kozin
- Ivan Hryhoriev
- Vladyslav Sokol
- Vitaliy Hoshkoderya
- Denys Yarych
The team is led by head coach Mykhailo Shevchenko, with Sviatoslav Markanych serving as his assistant.
Understanding Sokqa Rules
Sokqa, the sport in which the national team competes, is a team ball game and a variant of football played in a 6-on-6 format. Matches take place on a 30x50 meter field and consist of two 25-minute halves. Each team fields one goalkeeper and five outfield players. The goals measure 2 meters high by 5 meters wide.
In related news, Ukraine's football (soccer) national team suffered a 1-3 defeat against Sweden in the semifinals of the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup. Ponomarenko scored Ukraine's only goal in the 90+1 minute, while Gyökeres netted a hat-trick with goals in the 6th, 51st, and 72nd minutes.
As part of the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, the group stage draw has been finalized. 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
Teams are distributed across groups, and advancement to the Round of 32 will be granted to the top two finishers in each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams from the group stage.
Ukraine's progression to the Euro 2026 quarterfinals in sokqa highlights the sport's growing popularity in the country and underscores the team's strong performance under Mykhailo Shevchenko's leadership. Competing internationally allows Ukrainian athletes to gain valuable experience and elevate their game, which could positively impact sokqa's development in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the football team's loss in the World Cup playoff semifinal points to the challenges Ukrainian squads face on the global stage. These events mark important milestones as the nation prepares for future competitions.
As the excitement builds for Ukraine's upcoming quarterfinal match against Spain, it's worth noting the broader context of the national team's performance. In addition to the senior squad's achievements, the U-21 team is set to compete in friendly matches against the USA and Japan in Slovenia, showcasing the depth of talent within Ukrainian football.