The Ukrainian U-18/19 youth team, during a selection camp held in Kyiv from August 3 to 6, played a friendly match against «Left Bank-2» at the V. Bannikov National Training Centre, which ended in a draw — 2:2.

The coach of the blue-and-yellow team spoke about this camp in an interview with the official website of the UAF.

— Mr. Dmitro, what was the main focus during the recent camp?

— This short-term camp aimed to observe players who are playing in Ukraine. The team hadn't gathered for a year, so there were many new faces. We needed to get acquainted with them, especially on positions that concern us most. Everything went well, and we received the necessary information.

— Did the level of the opponent in the friendly match have great significance for you?

— No. First and foremost, we were looking at how players receive information, wanted to see their condition and whether they meet the demands of the coaching staff. The sparring was needed precisely for this purpose. We are grateful to «Left Bank» that we managed to play against them.

— Will there be another preparation stage in this squad before the qualification tournament for Euro?

— Yes. We will gather again in September. From the 1st to the 9th, the Ukrainian team will participate in an interesting and, I am sure, beneficial international tournament alongside teams from Spain, England, and the Netherlands.

— Many potential players of this squad play abroad?

— I think that this will be the first squad where the number of our footballers playing abroad exceeds 50 percent.

— So, in Spain, where the camp takes place, you will already determine the core of this team for official matches?

— I think that around 80 percent. The matter is that there are many of our players in foreign championships, so there's still a lot of work ahead to identify the best among them.

Photo: Dan Balashov

Let us remind you that this squad is preparing for participation in the qualification round of Euro-2026 (U-19). Our team has been drawn into Group 5 alongside Slovakia, Montenegro, and Albania. The mini-tournament will take place in November in Albania.

Schedule of matches for Ukraine's U-19 national team

November 12, 2025. Ukraine — Albania

November 15, 2025. Ukraine — Montenegro

November 18, 2025. Slovakia — Ukraine

Results of the qualification round draw for Euro-2026 (U-19)

Group 1: Ireland, Netherlands, Cyprus, Kazakhstan.

Group 2: France, Hungary, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands.

Group 3: Turkey, Greece, Belarus, Liechtenstein.

Group 4: Israel, Austria, Slovenia, Luxembourg.

Group 5: Ukraine, Slovakia, Montenegro, Albania.

Group 6: Serbia, Croatia, Georgia, Gibraltar.

Group 7: Romania, Iceland, Finland, Andorra.

Group 8: England, Scotland, Latvia, Lithuania.

Group 9: Italy, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova.

Group 10: Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, San Marino.

Group 11: Portugal, Belgium, North Macedonia, Estonia.

Group 12: Norway, Germany, Armenia, Kosovo.

Group 13: Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Malta, Azerbaijan.

52 teams are divided into 13 groups of four participants each. The host of the final stage, Wales' national team, received an automatic berth for this tournament, while Spain's squad will enter competition in the elite round of qualification.

Based on the results of the qualification round, two best teams from each group and one best third-placed team among them will join Spain in the elite round. It will take place in spring 2026 in seven groups that will determine seven squads to join Wales in the final stage of Euro-2026 (U-19).