On July 14, 1894, in Lviv, the first football match took place between the local team "Sokil" and a team from Krakow, which ended with the home team's victory — 1:0. The match was held on a stadium with seating for 7,000 spectators, built on the territory of today's Stryisky Park specifically for the opening of the General Provincial Exhibition, and was included in the program of the second meeting of the "Sokil" society.

The historic match on July 14, 1894 took place between teams from the "Sokil" societies of Lviv and Krakow. Gazeta Lwowska reported that Lviv's football players wore gray gymnastic trousers and white shirts, while those from Krakow — blue trousers and white shirts. The game ended with a victory for the Lviv team — 1:0 (the decisive goal was scored in the north goal by student Vladimir Khomiczky of the teacher's gymnasium at the sixth minute). Immediately after the goal, the match ended because it was time for gymnastic demonstrations...

After studying available documents on July 3, 1999, the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian Football Association (then — the Football Federation of Ukraine) adopted a historic decision to consider July 14, 1894 as the birthday of Ukrainian football, when exactly that short match took place in Lviv.

On July 1, 2004, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a resolution — "On Commemorating the 110th Anniversary of Ukrainian Football." Thus, it was legally established that Ukrainian football dates back precisely to July 14, 1894.

That same year in 2004, on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the first football match held on Ukrainian territory, a monument (sculptor — Yaroslav Skakun) was opened at the site where it took place, on the upper terrace of Stryisky Park.

Five years ago in Lviv to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian and Lviv football, a match was held at "Lviv Arena" between veterans of the national team and Lviv's "Karpaty," which ended with a victory for the Lviv side — 1:0.

Time flies imperceptibly, and today, on July 14, 2024, we will celebrate its 130th anniversary.

Symbolically, the year of the 130th anniversary of Ukrainian football — is the most significant in all its history. The national team and two youth teams have qualified for final tournaments of European championships, while the Olympic team will participate in a football tournament at the Olympics for the first time in history! Considering that this is happening against the backdrop of full-scale invasion by the Russian federation, one can only be amazed at the courage and skill of representatives of Ukraine's football community!

Unfortunately, matches of national teams due to security requirements can only be held outside Ukraine. But we all believe that after our victory, great football will return not only to the lucky for the national team Lviv, but also to other cities in Ukraine.