--- title: "Ukraine national team to hold pre-match training camp on home soil ahead of decisive UEFA Nations League games" description: "The Ukraine national football team will hold its pre-match training camp for the November Nations League matches on home territory, starting preparations in Uzhhorod. This is the second such case since the start of the full-scale invasion." date: 2026-10-19T09:58:56.745Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-national-team-training-camp-uzhhorod tags: [ukraine-national-team, nations-league, football, training-camp, kosice, georgia, northern-ireland] author: "Andrey Kosynko, Dmitriy Shatolov" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukraine national team to hold pre-match training camp on home soil ahead of decisive UEFA Nations League games ![Ukraine national team football players with flags and children standing before the match in Košice](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/19/sbornaya-ukrainy-uchetno-trenirovochny-sbor-v-uzhgorode/sbornaya-ukrainy-uchetno-trenirovochny-sbor-v-uzhgorode-1.webp) ## Key Points - The Ukraine national team will hold its pre-match camp on home territory, starting preparations in Uzhhorod — the second such case since the start of the full-scale invasion. - Košice, Slovakia, will serve as the transit and training center ahead of the matches on November 14 and 17. - After four rounds of the 2026/27 Nations League, Ukraine ranks 3rd in the group with 4 points; the November games against Northern Ireland and Georgia will be decisive. The Ukraine national football team has made an unusual decision regarding the organization of its preparation for the November group stage matches of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League. The team will hold its training camp directly on the territory of Ukraine rather than abroad, as has frequently been practiced in recent years. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing journalist and insider Igor Burbas. ### Second home training camp since the start of the invasion The arrival of the players to the 'blue-and-yellow' camp is scheduled for November 8–9. The starting stage of the preparation process will take place in Uzhhorod, marking only the second time a training camp has been held inside the country since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Choosing a Ukrainian venue for the start of training highlights the coaching staff's desire for maximum logistical compactness before two crucial matches. ### Transit hub in Košice On November 12, Andrea Maldera's charges will travel to Košice, Slovakia, from where the team will fly to Belfast for their first match. The Slovak city will serve as the transit and training center throughout the November series of games: after the match in Belfast, the Ukrainian delegation will return to Košice on November 15, where they will hold the final stage of preparation for the nominally home fixture against Georgia, scheduled for November 17. ### Two matches that will determine tournament fate The first of the two final matches against Northern Ireland will take place on November 14 away. Immediately after the game, on November 15, the team will return to Košice. Then on November 17, the Ukraine national team will play a nominally home fixture against Georgia. Both matches are of key importance for the national team's further tournament prospects. ### Tournament standings: Ukraine in third place Following four played rounds of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League group stage, the Ukraine national team occupies the third position in its group. The Ukrainian team has four points — one win, one draw, and two losses. Thus, the upcoming November series will be decisive: the results in the matches against Northern Ireland and Georgia will directly determine the 'blue-and-yellow' chances of further progression in the standings. In the provided footage, Ukraine national team players stand in a row wrapped in national flags before the start of the match at the stadium in Košice — a city that this time will serve as the main focal point for the team's preparation ahead of two key fixtures. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Сборная Украины приняла нетипичное решение о подготовке к решающим матчам Лиги наций](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/zbirna-ukrayini-uhvalila-netipove-rishennya-1792403615.html) - Single source; data regarding the camp location (Uzhhorod, Košice), match dates (November 14 and 17), and standings (3rd place, 4 points) are cited with reference to insider Igor Burbas, without official UAF confirmation. There are no discrepancies between sources. ## FAQ ### Where will the Ukraine national team hold its pre-match training camp? On the territory of Ukraine: preparations will begin in Uzhhorod, after which the team will move to Košice, Slovakia, which will serve as the training and transit center. ### When and where will the November matches take place? November 14 — away match against Northern Ireland in Belfast; November 17 — nominally home match against Georgia, for which the team will prepare in Košice. ### How does Ukraine stand in the Nations League table? After four rounds of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League group stage, the Ukraine national team occupies 3rd place in its quartet with 4 points (1 win, 1 draw, 2 losses).