Today, June 4, at 21:30 Kyiv time, a momentous event will take place at the Tipos Arena in Bratislava, destined to enter the history of Ukrainian sports. The national futsal team of Ukraine will take the field for the final match of the Euro 2026 Championship. In the battle for the continent's top trophy, the "blue and yellows" will face the team from Azerbaijan.

The Road to the First Final in History

For the Ukrainian team, this tournament has been special: for the first time in history under the auspices of the European Futsal Federation (EMF), the national team has reached the decisive match. The team coached by Alexander Bondar has demonstrated outstanding stability throughout the tournament.

The Ukrainians confidently topped Group C in the group stage, earning 7 points. Their path to the summit unfolded as follows:

  • A victory over Belgium with a score of 4:0.
  • A successful match against Turkey, ending with a score of 3:2.
  • A draw with Serbia (1:1) in the final round of the group stage.

In the semi-finals, the Ukrainian team defeated Hungary, allowing them to reach the final of the continental championship for the first time in history.

History of Appearances and the Opponent

This is already the sixth European Championship in which the Ukrainian national team is participating. The continental championship has an interesting chronology: until 2018, the tournament was held annually, followed by a four-year break, and since 2022, the competitions have resumed in a biennial format.

The Ukrainians' debut at the Euros took place in 2016. Just two years later, in 2018, Ukraine hosted the tournament in Kyiv. It was at this home championship that the team showed its best result to date, reaching the quarter-finals. Now, years later, in Slovakia, the team has managed to surpass this success.

In the final, the Ukrainians are set to battle the reigning world champions — the team from Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijanis secured their spot in the decisive match in a dramatic encounter against Serbia. Regular time ended with a score of 1:1, and the winner was determined in a penalty shootout (3:1).

The tournament paths of the opponents recently crossed: in April 2025, as part of the Nations League, the teams drew 2:2. That match was remembered for its high intensity and the fighting spirit of both sides.

Where to Watch and Important Details

A live video broadcast of the historic match between Ukraine and Azerbaijan will be available in Ukraine on the Kyivstar TV platform. The opening whistle will blow at 21:30.

It is worth noting that the futsal played by the Ukrainians has its own specificities and should not be confused with traditional parquet futsal. Also, this sport differs from Socca — a 6-on-6 game on grass with specific rules, such as replacing penalties with shootouts, and its own separate federation.

Today's evening will be decisive for the Ukrainian team. A victory in this match will bring the Ukrainian national team its first-ever gold medal in the Futsal European Championship.