Futsal EURO 2026 Qualifiers. Ukraine starts main round with confident victory in Cyprus

13.12.2024 12:29

Under the guidance of coach Oleksandr Kosenko, Ukraine's national futsal team started the main round of the EURO 2026 qualifiers with an away match against Cyprus in Nicosia.

On May 30, the draw for the Futsal EURO 2026 qualifiers was held. Ukraine was placed in Group 1 alongside Romania, Germany, and Cyprus. The match against Cyprus marked the team's opening game of the main round.

The hosts held on until the 7th minute when Korsun scored on the rebound after the Cyprus goalkeeper was saved twice by the post. Mykytyuk doubled Ukraine’s lead with a brilliant volley from a throw-in by Shved. Farenyuk then calmly scored after a corner kick from Zvarych. Soon after, Abakshyn netted a fourth goal for the visitors on a rebound.

In the second half, Ukraine continued to extend their lead. First, Farenyuk finished off a pass from Korsun, and then the captain scored after a Semenchenko free-kick. Mykytyuk added a second goal, benefiting from a pass from Zhuk. In the end, Ukraine secured a confident 7:0 victory.

In the next match of Group 1, Ukraine will play away against Romania on December 17, 2024, at 19:00 Kyiv time in Târgu Mureș.

Futsal EURO 2026 Qualifiers. Main Round. Group 1

December 12, 2024

Romania - Germany - 6:0

December 13, 2024

Cyprus - Ukraine - 0:7 (0:4)

Goals: Korsun (7, 27), Mykytyuk (8, 34), Farenyuk (11, 25), Abakshyn (12).

Cyprus: Psilogenis (Stiliou, 27) — Kolumbri, Kollupas, Tsitsos, Savva; Lakufis, N. El Kembe, Nikolaidis, Papaspirou, T. El Kembe, Krekos, Kitsiu, Ioannu.

Ukraine: Savenko — Abakshyn, Zvarych, Korsun (C), Semenchenko; Sukhov, Shved, Zhuk, Mykytyuk, Melnyk, Chernyavskyi, Farenyuk, Lebid, Pervieiev.

December 13, 2024. Nicosia. Tassos Papadopoulos Eleftheria Indoor Hall.

Standings

December 17, 2024

Romania vs. Ukraine (19:00)

December 18, 2024

Germany vs. Cyprus (19:30)

January 31, 2025

Romania vs. Cyprus

Germany vs. Ukraine

February 4, 2025

Ukraine vs. Germany

February 5, 2025

Cyprus vs. Romania

April 11, 2025

Germany vs. Romania

Ukraine vs. Cyprus

April 15, 2025

Ukraine vs. Romania

Cyprus vs. Germany

Futsal EURO 2026 Main Round Draw

Group 1: Ukraine, Romania, Germany, Cyprus.

Group 2: Finland, Italy, Belarus, Malta.

Group 3: Poland, Slovakia, Moldova, Turkiye.

Group 4: Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, Norway.

Group 5: Croatia, Azerbaijan, Sweden, Greece.

Group 6: Kazakhstan, Armenia, Denmark, Albania.

Group 7: Portugal, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Andorra.

Group 8: Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, England, Switzerland.

Group 9: Serbia, Czechia, Belgium, Austria.

Group 10: France, Georgia, Kosovo, Bulgaria.

Futsal EURO 2026 Qualification Format

The qualification process consists of three stages: the preliminary round (mini-tournaments), the main round (home and away group matches), and the playoffs (home and away).

Latvia and Lithuania, the tournament hosts, receive automatic spots for EURO 2026. Some teams begin in the preliminary round, while others enter directly into the main round.

Main Round (December 9, 2024 – April 16, 2025)

A total of 40 teams (the 34 best teams according to the December ranking and the 6 best teams from the preliminary round) will be divided into 10 groups of four teams each. Every team will play against others in their group both at home and away. The 10 group winners will join Latvia and Lithuania in the final stage, while the 8 best second-place teams will advance to the playoffs.

For the draw, teams were placed into four pots of 10 teams based on their coefficients as of April 18, 2024. Ukraine was placed in Group 1, where they will face Romania, Germany, and Cyprus.

Playoffs (September 15-24, 2025)

The 8 second-place teams will be split into four pairs. After home and away matches, the final four spots in the final stage will be determined.

Final Tournament (January 18 – February 8, 2026, exact dates to be announced)

16 teams will be divided into four groups. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarterfinals.