The Ukraine national under-19 football team is beginning its campaign to qualify for the 2027 European Championship. Head coach Oleh Luzhnyi has finalized the squad that will represent the "blue and yellows" in the November qualifying round. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the official website of the Ukrainian Association of Football. The list for the second qualifying round matches includes 21 players, among whom are representatives of Ukrainian clubs and a large group of legionnaires competing in the championships of Italy, Germany, England, Portugal, Croatia, Hungary, and the USA.
Mini-tournament in Ancona: A tight November schedule
The matches of the second qualifying round in Group A6 will be held in Ancona, Italy, where the "blue and yellows" will play three matches within a week. On November 11, the Ukrainian national team will face Israel (kick-off at 13:00 Kyiv time), on November 14, they will meet the mini-tournament hosts, Italy (16:30), and on November 17, they will play against Romania (14:00). This "mini-tournament" format means the team will play in away conditions on neutral ground and must demonstrate stability throughout a dense schedule.
The core: Shakhtar and Dynamo
Among Ukrainian clubs, Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv are the most widely represented in the call-up. It is the academy products and players from these clubs that form the base of the national team. The list features goalkeeper Rostyslav Bahlay, defender Mykyta Kaliuzhnyi, and midfielders Artem Zubrii and Oleksandr Chornenkyi from Shakhtar. Dynamo is represented by defenders Danylo Ohorodnyk and Nazar Ivaskiv, as well as midfielder Pavlo Liusin. Also in the squad are representatives of Polissya (goalkeeper Denys Talko), Metalist (defender Yehor Sherstiuk), Kharkiv (midfielder Ivan Bahrii), and Karpaty (forward Oleksandr Diedov).
Legionnaires from top European leagues and the USA
A significant portion of the squad consists of players performing abroad. Among them are defender Mykyta Melnyk from Italian side Napoli and Artem Muradian from German club Borussia (Mönchengladbach), midfielders Patryk Sikut (Peterborough United, England), Taras Vepryk (Colorcity, Hungary), Ilia Kutia and Adam Guram (both Hajduk, Croatia), Vitalii Hliut (Chicago Fire, USA), and Oleksandr Tkachenko (Werder, Germany), as well as goalkeeper Ostap Mykhailiuk (Rio Ave, Portugal) and forward Kyrylo Serdiuk (Stuttgart, Germany). The breadth of club geography—from Serie A and the Bundesliga to the MLS—reflects the depth of Ukraine's youth talent pool.
Full list of called-up players
Goalkeepers: Rostyslav Bahlay (Shakhtar), Denys Talko (Polissya), Ostap Mykhailiuk (Rio Ave, Portugal). Defenders: Yehor Sherstiuk (Metalist), Mykyta Kaliuzhnyi (Shakhtar), Danylo Ohorodnyk, Nazar Ivaskiv (both Dynamo), Mykyta Melnyk (Napoli, Italy), Artem Muradian (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany). Midfielders: Artem Zubrii, Oleksandr Chornenkyi (both Shakhtar), Pavlo Liusin (Dynamo), Ivan Bahrii (Kharkiv), Patryk Sikut (Peterborough United, England), Taras Vepryk (Colorcity, Hungary), Ilia Kutia, Adam Guram (both Hajduk, Croatia), Vitalii Hliut (Chicago Fire, USA), Oleksandr Tkachenko (Werder, Germany). Forwards: Oleksandr Diedov (Karpaty), Kyrylo Serdiuk (Stuttgart, Germany).
Bids for Euro 2027
For the coaching staff led by Oleh Luzhnyi, the November round in Ancona will be their first major test in the qualifying campaign. The matches against Israel, Italy, and Romania in Group A6 will determine the team's further prospects in the race for a ticket to the 2027 European Championship. A squad combining the experience of Ukrainian clubs and practice in foreign leagues should allow the Ukrainian national team to start the qualification confidently and earn points in the key duels of the mini-tournament.
