The first training camp of our girls in 2024 started on March 12. As part of the preparation for the FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup 2025 qualifiers, coached by Oleh Shaitanov, the team arrived in Taranto for two friendly matches against the Italians.

The hosts started the match better, with our team relying on Terekh's saves several times. Eventually, Butima brilliantly turned around near the goal and opened the scoring in the 14th minute. The Ukrainians quickly equalized when Terekh swiftly passed to Forsyuk, who converted the opportunity. However, before halftime, Coppari managed to restore Italy's lead with a precise shot from the right flank.

At the beginning of the second half, the blue-yellows leveled the score again: Terekh took the ball near her own goal, dribbled through the half of the field, and passed to Dubytska, who assisted Forsyuk. Our goalkeeper also didn't forget her direct duties, making a series of saves.

The blue-yellows responded with their chances, with Kuznetsova missing twice inaccurately. In the 35th minute, the Italians once again took the lead when Butima scored from a distance after a throw-in. Soon after, following a pass from her teammate, Butima completed her hat-trick. Ukraine's Hrytsenko could have reduced the deficit, but she failed to beat Sestari, as did Burlachenko from a favorable position.

So, the first friendly ended with a victory for the hosts - 4:2. The second match between the Italian and Ukrainian teams will take place tomorrow in Taranto (starting at 20:00 Kyiv time).

Friendly match of women's futsal teams

Italy - Ukraine - 4:2 (2:1)

Goals: Butima (14, 35, 36), Coppari (17) - Forsyuk (16, 23).

Italy: Sestari - Coppari, Borges, Butima, Adamatti; Grieco, Mansueto, Vanelli, Di Biase, Gilardi, Berte, Bovo, Dal'Maz, Ferrara, De Siena.

Ukraine: Terekh - Kuznetsova, Hrytsenko, Dubytska, Forsyuk; Mytrofanska, Kalyahina, Volovenko, Kovshyk, Kovalenko, Kaverzina, Stepanenko, Burlachenko, Drozd, Novikova.

2025 Women's Futsal World Cup. European Qualifiers. Format

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

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, Czechia, Sweden.

Spain and Portugal have received direct tickets to the elite round. If a European team earns the right to host the World Cup, they will secure a direct entry into the final stage.

Main round (dates of draw and matches to be determined later): 24 teams will be divided into six groups. The group winners and, if necessary, the best team among the second-place finishers will advance to the elite round.

Elite round (dates of draw and matches to be determined later): Eight teams, including Spain and Portugal, will be divided into two groups. The top two 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. The quotas for the World Cup are distributed as follows: Europe - 4, South America - 3, Asia - 3, Africa - 2, CONCACAF - 2, Oceania - 1. Another spot will be allocated to the host country.

Following the introduction of the Women's Futsal World Cup, UEFA will expand the Women's Futsal Euro to eight teams. The tournament will be held every four years, with the next edition taking place in 2027.

It is worth noting that Spain won all three Women's Futsal European Championships held before this moment - in 2019, 2022 (postponed from 2021), and 2023. The Ukrainian national team finished fourth, third, and second respectively in these tournaments.