Ukraine's U-18 Youth Squad Announced for Croatia Tournament

Ukraine U-18 Roster Set for Friendly Tournament in Croatia

According to Главком: Dmytro Mykhailenko, head coach of Ukraine's under-18 national team, has revealed the 24-player squad set to compete in a friendly tournament in Croatia from June 3 to June 9, 2026. The roster includes goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, all aiming to gain international experience. This tournament offers a key opportunity for young talents to showcase their skills on a foreign stage.

Team Roster

The goalkeepers selected are:

• Rostyslav Bahlay (Shakhtar Donetsk)
• Mark Holenkov (Maccabi Haifa, Israel)
• Yehor Klymenko (Rukh Lviv)

The defensive lineup includes:

• Mykyta Melnyk (Napoli, Italy)
• Zakhar Onyshchuk (Bologna, Italy)
• Yehor Kostiuk
• Nikita Kalyuzhnyi (both from Shakhtar Donetsk)
• Yehor Sherstiuk (Metalist Kharkiv)
• Dmytro Maksymenko (Rebel Kyiv)
• Arsen Zalypka (Rukh Lviv)

The midfielders named to the squad are:

• Oleksandr Balakai
• Artem Zubrii (both from Shakhtar Donetsk)
• Illia Kutia (Hajduk Split, Croatia)
• Vitalii Hliut (Chicago Fire, USA)
• Dmytro Sukhonos (Kolos Kovalivka)
• Mykola Petrovskyi (Stuttgart, Germany)
• Illia Hryshchenko (Metalist Kharkiv)
• Muhammad Dzhurabaev (Rukh Lviv)
• Vasyl Hustei (Puskás Akadémia Felcsút, Hungary)
• Ivan Bahrii (Metalist 1925 Kharkiv)

The forwards selected are:

• Dmytro Zudin (Hajduk Split, Croatia)
• Illia Menshykov (Austria Vienna, Austria)
• Matvii Bodnar (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih)
• Oleksandr Diedov (Karpaty Lviv)

The tournament schedule features three matches for Ukraine:

• On June 3, 2026, the team faces Finland at 6:30 PM at Dunjkovac Stadium in Pretetinec.
• On June 6, 2026, Ukraine takes on Norway at 1:00 PM at the City Stadium in Mursko Središće.
• The final group match is set for June 9, 2026, against Turkey at 1:00 PM at the City Stadium in Čakovec.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian U-18 side recently suffered a 3-1 defeat to Sweden in the World Cup playoff semifinals. In that match, Ponomarenko scored for Ukraine in the 91st minute, while Gyökeres netted a hat-trick for Sweden in the 6th, 51st, and 72nd minutes.

With this tournament, the Ukrainian U-18 squad aims to bounce back, test new tactics, and build cohesion ahead of future competitions. The friendly matches will provide invaluable exposure for these young players, helping them refine their abilities against international opponents.

As Ukraine's U-18 team prepares for their upcoming tournament in Croatia, it’s essential to keep an eye on the broader context of youth football development in the country. The U-21 squad has also been recently announced for friendly matches against the USA and Japan, showcasing the ongoing commitment to nurturing young talents. For more details on the U-21 roster and their upcoming fixtures, check out our coverage on the U-21 squad.