The women's national futsal team of Ukraine is preparing for participation in the European qualification for the inaugural Women's World Cup. The plans of our blue-and-yellow team were shared on the official website of the UAF by the head coach Oleg Shaytanov:

"Our nearest friendly matches will be against Italy's national team. Two games are scheduled for Taranto on March 18 and 19. We'll start gathering on March 12, and we have several days of training planned. For these gatherings, we plan to invite 15 players."

There are agreements for two friendly matches against Sweden's national team in September this year. All countries are waiting for the draw. So I think activity will start only after everyone finds out which teams they'll be playing against in the World Cup qualification.

The composition of the women's national team, of course, will be updated. For these gatherings, we plan to invite several girls who are coming into the national setup for the first time.

As for motivation, how can you not be motivated by such an event as the first World Cup qualification? This is motivation for both young and experienced players. For many, this is a childhood dream," said Oleg Shaytanov.

2025 Women's Futsal World Cup European Qualification Format

26 teams will compete for four spots in the main and elite rounds of the World Cup.

Participants: England, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gibraltar, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Ukraine, Finland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Sweden.

Spain and Portugal have received direct spots in the elite round. If a European team hosts the World Cup, it will become the holder of a direct spot in the final stage.

Main Round (dates for draw and matches to be announced later)

24 teams will be divided into six groups. Group winners, and if necessary, the best second-placed team, will advance to the elite round.

Elite Round (dates for draw and matches to be announced later)

Eight teams, including Spain and Portugal, will be divided into two groups. The top two best teams from each group will advance to the final stage.

The first Women's Futsal World Cup will take place in 2025. Sixteen teams will participate in the tournament. The quotas for participation are distributed as follows: Europe — 4, South America — 3, Asia — 3, Africa — 2, CONCACAF — 2, Oceania — 1. One additional spot will go to the host country.

After introducing the Women's Futsal World Cup, UEFA will expand the women's Euro futsal tournament to eight teams. The tournament will be held every four years, with the next one taking place in 2027.

As a reminder, all three European championships for women's futsal that were held until now — in 2019, 2022 (rescheduled from 2021) and 2023 — were won by Spain. Ukraine's national team took fourth, third, and second places respectively.