Ukraine's U-18 Futsal Team Secures Decisive Victory Over Portugal

Ukraine's U-18 Futsal Squad Claims Impressive Win

According to Главком: In a friendly match held at the Arena Portugal in the Lisbon suburb of Caxias, Ukraine's U-18 national futsal team delivered a commanding performance against Portugal's U-17 side. This contest served as a key preparatory fixture for both teams. Under the guidance of coach Igor Moskvychov, the Ukrainian players were effectively prepared for a successful outing, a fact clearly reflected in the final scoreline.

Ukraine seized the initiative early, with Artem Malynovskyi opening the scoring in the 5th minute and adding a second goal just four minutes later. Daniil Lytvynovskyi extended the lead to 3:0 with a goal in the 22nd minute. Portugal managed to rally, with Ricardo Duarte scoring in the 31st minute and Tomas Sha finding the net two minutes later to narrow the gap to 2:3. However, Ukraine responded swiftly, with Oleksandr Burlaka restoring a two-goal cushion in the 34th minute. The match concluded with a 4:2 victory for Ukraine. Futsal, the fast-paced indoor version of football, is growing in popularity across Europe.

Upcoming Fixtures and World Cup Qualification

This friendly was the first of two scheduled meetings between these teams. The second match is set for February 25, 2026, in Caxias, with kickoff at 19:00 Kyiv time.

Beyond the friendly matches, Ukraine has also successfully concluded the first stage of qualification for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, to be hosted in three North American nations. Their final match of this initial phase was a 2:0 victory over Iceland, with goals from Zubkov in the 83rd minute and Hutsuliak in the 90+3rd minute. Having advanced, Ukraine will now face Sweden in the playoff semi-final, with the winner of the Poland-Albania tie awaiting in the final. This strong performance in youth futsal bodes well for the future of Ukrainian football.

This friendly victory underscores the rising strength of Ukraine's youth squad and their readiness for future challenges.

The cohesion and confidence displayed against Portugal could prove vital as they prepare for major international tournaments. A successful start to World Cup qualification further highlights positive trends within Ukrainian football, which may significantly benefit the development of young talent in the country.