The second final stage of the All-Ukrainian school football tournament "School Ball" (Uzhhorod first round) took place at the Uzhhorod stadium «Avangard».

For nearly 60 years, students from secondary schools in Ukraine have participated in the "Leather Ball" competitions. This was an incredible mass tournament. Over 50,000 teams competed in age categories of 14, 13, 12 years and younger. The finals took place on large stadiums in district centers across Ukraine. Most importantly, those participating were not young football players who trained at DYSKs or preparatory groups affiliated with professional clubs, but children who loved football and played on school playgrounds, in courtyards, and backyards. Mass participation was the key here. Coaches from sports schools watched these matches with satisfaction and invited a large number of talented boys to their teams who had not engaged in football at a professional level for various reasons.

Photo zaf.org.ua

In March 2025, the revived tournament — "School Ball"— began in our country with nearly 1,000 teams participating. By the season of 2025/2026, their number had grown to approximately 3,000 (around 50,000 children).

Now the second stage of multi-stage competitions — territorial community first rounds — has begun. Ahead, starting from spring 2026, school teams are looking forward to district, regional, and national finals.

Photo zaf.org.ua

Right now, the All-Ukrainian "School Ball" tournament is increasing the mass participation of children's football in Ukraine, taking into account the very difficult situation in the country. Within the competitions, the Ukrainian Football Association has already transferred over 8,000 adidas balls to schools through regional associations.

Photo zaf.org.ua

The tasks facing the tournament organizers are to improve physical education and health work in general secondary schools through mass football, strengthen students' health, engage them in regular football training, identify talented players, popularize and develop football.

All-Ukrainian "School Ball" tournaments take place under the auspices of the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF), the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. They are also supported by the Amateur Football Association of Ukraine, the Fyodor Shpig Foundation, and the UAF Foundation. In Zakarpattia Oblast, the tournaments are organized by the Department of Education, Youth and Sport of Zakarpattia OVA and the Zakarpattia Football Association.

As of today, 30 communities in Zakarpattia Oblast have registered their schools for the "School Ball" season-2025/2026 (this is almost 70 teams of schoolchildren born in 2014 and younger):

Uzhhorod District — Baraninivska, Syrtivska, Serednyanska, Onokivska, Velikodoronska, Kostynska, Uzhhorod City Community;

Tyachiv District — Bushchynska, Solotvynska, Neresnitsa Community;

Khust District — Horinchivska, Zarychnanska, Khust City Community, Kereckyvska, Synyvirskiy Community;

Berdykhiv District — Berdykhiv City Community, Velikoberezkyvskyi, Vilotskyvskyi, Vinogradivska City Community, Kamianka, Batyvska Community;

Rakhiv District — Bogdanska, Rakhiv City Community, Yasynianska Community;

Mukacheve District — Volovetska, Kolychnska, Palyanska, Stavnenska, Chyndiyivska Communities.

In November, the second stage of competitions takes place, but given the large number of interested participants, registration has been extended. Teachers of physical education can contact their community's education department for additional information.

Territorial community finals have already taken place in Berdykhiv City (winner — Taras Shevchenko Lyceum), Velikoberezkyi (winner — Dobray Petar ZZZSO), Kolychny (winner — I-II-III ZZZSO), Palyany (winner — Lyceum), Vilotskyi (winner — School No. 1), Zarychanskyi (winner — Gymnasium) and Vylkivetskyi (winner — Lyceum) communities. And now the final of the Uzhhorod territorial community took place, where teams from Lyceum No. 15 (teacher — Kristina Shitev) and Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn (teacher — Olena Yakubets) met.

Photo zaf.org.ua

The match was incredibly tense, the goalkeepers played well and saved their teams several times. Somewhere in the course of the game, a slight advantage was on the side of the young players from Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn, but the swift counterattacks by representatives of Lyceum No. 15 were sharp and dangerous. The match kept everyone present at the stadium on edge until the final whistle ended in a scoreless draw. In the penalty shootout, luck smiled upon the students of Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn.

At the ceremonial awarding of participants in the final match, the deputy head of ZAF, director of the «Avangard» stadium Viktor Kachur, head of Uzhhorod City Football Association Vasyl Homanay and players of FC «Uzhhorod» Antoniy Emerre and Ivan Ilchuk were present. It was representatives of the professional club who presented the best players of the match, Julian Kokayko (Lyceum No. 15) and Julian Kudilchak (Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn), with signed balls from the main team of the regional center. From ZAF, teams received a set of mannequins and a set of tokens which are very necessary for training sessions. Viktor Kachur presented the teams with footballs adidas from UAF.

Photo zaf.org.ua

Young football players were awarded diplomas and medals for participation, while the team of Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn received a cup as winners of the final match.

The next stages of the largest school tournaments "School Ball" will take place in 2026.