The Ukrainian U-16 national team (players born in 2009 or later) concluded their participation at the Four Nations Tournament hosted by Romania today.

In the first match, Oleh Hlodyuk's wards lost to Poland (0:1), in the second they defeated the tournament hosts (4:2), and today they faced Montenegro.

The first half began with a great attack by the Ukrainians. On the 5th minute, Artem Haponenko received a pass right in front of the opponent's goal but failed to score from two meters above the crossbar. However, six minutes later he made amends and scored with an accurate shot after receiving a cross from the left flank — 1:0.

On the 29th minute, a gross error in passing back led to Nikolai Vukoe being one-on-one with our goalkeeper. The Montenegrin did not miss — 1:1.

The Ukrainians went ahead again on the 67th minute. Nazariy Rudzey won possession and passed to Artem Rybak, who cleverly outmaneuvered the goalkeepers of the Balkan team. Kyrill Sarichev put the exclamation point in the match by heading a cross into the crossbar at the 86th minute.

Thus, 3:1 — victory for the Ukrainian national team. Our boys earned six points and finished second at the Four Nations Tournament, yielding to Poland on tiebreakers.

Four Nations Tournament. Round 3

Montenegro (U-16) — Ukraine (U-16) — 1:3 (1:1)

Goals: Vukoe (29) — Haponenko (11), Rybak (67), Sarichev (86).

Montenegro (U-16): Kolchevic (Chekic, 76), Krunic, L. Markovic (Durisic, 46), Uzunovskiy, Popovic (Kumburovich, 76), Rakcevic, Sekularać, Vujo维奇 (Pavichević, 76), Vushuрович, Vukoe, M. Markovic.

Ukraine (U-16): Udovichenko, Plamynskiy (Shukalovich, 67), Huryn (Soldarenko, 67), Garbar, Kuriačy (Rudzey, 55), Haponenko (Koval, 46), Koshtій (Gololobov, 62), Guiram (Safonov, 62), Tzarichanskiy (Sarichev, 46), Rybak, Yablonskyy (Levytskyi, 46).

Yellow cards: Vukoe (21), Krunic (56) — Koval (69), Sarichev (87).

Romania (U-16) — Poland (U-16) — 0:4

Final Standings

It should be noted that from May 4 to 9, our boys will participate in the UEFA Development Tournament where they will play against peers from Greece, Finland (hosts), and Hungary.

We remind you that on December 5 in Nyon, Switzerland, the draw for the first round of Euro-2026 (U-17) qualification took place. According to its results, Ukraine's youth national team ended up in Group 1, where they will face Italy, Montenegro, and Estonia. The host of the mini-tournament will be Estonia.

Schedule for Ukraine's U-17 National Team

01.10.2025. Montenegro — Ukraine 

04.10.2025. Ukraine — Estonia

07.10.2025. Ukraine — Italy  

Results of the First Round Euro-2026 (U-17) Qualification Draw

Group 1: Italy, Ukraine, Montenegro, Estonia.

Group 2: Czech Republic, Hungary, North Macedonia, Gibraltar.

Group 3: England, Sweden, Lithuania, Scotland.

Group 4: Spain, Denmark, Latvia, Andorra.

Group 5: Belgium, Norway, Belarus, Moldova.

Group 6: Austria, Ireland, Kosovo, Faroe Islands.

Group 7: Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malta.

Group 8: Croatia, Netherlands, Albania, Kazakhstan.

Group 9: France, Israel, Romania, Azerbaijan.

Group 10: Switzerland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, San Marino.

Group 11: Northern Ireland, Finland, Cyprus, Armenia.

Group 12: Portugal, Slovenia, Wales, Liechtenstein.

Group 13: Poland, Germany, Luxembourg.

Group 14: Greece, Iceland, Georgia.

54 teams were divided into 12 groups of four participants and two groups of three participants. The host of the final tournament, Estonia's national team, will also participate in the qualification.

According to the results of the first round qualification, 14 group winners and 14 teams that secured second place will advance to the second round of League A. The remaining 26 teams will take part in the second round of League B.

Teams advancing to the second round of qualification in League A will compete for seven spots at Euro-2026 (U-17) in spring 2026. Estonia, as the host of the tournament, received an automatic berth. It should be noted that this qualifying round is also a qualifier for the CS-2026 (U-17) in Qatar.

Moreover, teams from both leagues of the second qualification round will compete for promotion and relegation between leagues before the first round of Euro-2028 (U-19) qualification.