The Professional Football League has announced the calendar for the first league season in Ukraine, which will feature 20 teams divided into two groups. The competitions will start on July 28th, with five of the best clubs from each group advancing to the second stage to compete for promotion.

In the first round, the most interesting matches include a game in Chernivtsi where "Bukovina" will host their neighbors from Ternopil. Additionally, there are games between "Metalista" and "Epizentrum," as well as "Metallurg" against "Kremen."

According to experts, the main contender for the title of strongest team is Lviv's "Karpaty." After a multi-year break, the club has been led once again by renowned specialist Myron Markevych. He did not waste time and immediately signed 16 young newcomers, including two Brazilian foreigners. It should be noted that most of these new players previously represented "Metalista," which was eliminated from the UPL.

After a home draw in their first friendly match against "Agrobusiness," the green and white team traveled to Uzhhorod for a July training camp, where they won three friendlies. In the last one, they defeated elite "Kryvbas" (1-0).

Another contender for top positions is "Metallurg." The Zaporizhia team has retained all key players and managed to sign Oleksandr Nikolishin from "Metalista" and rent Denys Galata from "Kremen."

Unlike "Karpaty," Kharkiv's "Metalist" suffered significant personnel losses in June. However, the Slobozhans have stayed afloat and are gradually preparing for the season. New manager Andriy Anishchenko is satisfied with the summer reinforcements—Stanislav Morarenc from "Kolos," Dmitro Fastov from "Karpaty," and Andriy Busyk from Lviv. Although it's clear that the core of the team will consist of players who played for the youth squad last season.

It should be noted that in recent days, participants of the first league have been active on the transfer market.

"Viktoriya" from Sumy, which has expressed a desire to play again in the first league, is focusing its recruitment efforts on experienced players. They have already signed former "Obolon" players Maxim Pokotiluk and Oleksiy Savchenko.

The newcomer—«Niva» from Buzova—is likely to challenge the competition. New head coach Igor Zhabchenko has strengthened his squad with Danil Knysh from "Metalista," Vladyslav Nekhtiy ("LNZ"), Vladyslav Dvorovenko from "Metallurg," Kirill Prokopchuk and Mykhailo Serhiychuk from "Bukovina," and Pavlo Zakhidniy from "Oleksandria." The coach will decide on three more potential newcomers this week.

FK «Mariupol» is making efforts to avoid relegation. In recent friendlies, Oleh Krasnopiyorov's team won with a score of 3-2 against both "Viktoriya" and "Kudryvko." Players from "Obolon," Artem Tereshov, and "Chayka," Dmitro Pudi, have expressed interest in playing for «Mariupol». Contracts were extended with Igor Bykovskyi, Ivan Mochevyns'kyi, Dmytro Pentel'yichuk, and Illia Karavashchenko. As for changes in the administrative staff, Vladimir Tumanovskyy has become the new sports director of FK.