Ukrainian Cup 2026/27: Routings, Amateur Shootout, and a Center-Field Masterpiece in the Round of 32

The draw for the 2026/27 Ukrainian Cup season has begun. The first matches of the Round of 32, played on August 20 and 21, were memorable for high-scoring encounters, routings, and audacious goals. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA citing the official tournament website. At this stage, 56 teams are competing, playing out 28 matches to secure spots in the next round.

Format and Participants

The Round of 32 of the Ukrainian Cup features 12 UPL clubs, 14 First League teams, 15 Second League squads, six amateur teams, and nine winners of the regional qualifying round. However, the tournament regulations allow only one team per club to participate: therefore, the reserve sides of "Kolos" and "Polesie" from the First League, as well as "Sambor-Nyva-2", "Poltava-2", and "Alexandria-2" from the Second League, do not take part in the draw.

Results of the First Matches

The opening match of the round took place on Thursday, August 20: First League representative "Phoenix-Mariupol" easily defeated Vyshhorod's "Dynaz" from the Second League — 6:0. On Friday, August 21, five more matches were played. In a high-scoring amateur match, Cherkasy's "Basis" defeated Nezhin's "Druzhba-Kozaki" with a score of 5:3. Additionally, "Alexandria" prevailed over Vinnytsia's "Bratslav" (2:0), Volochysk's "Aghrobiznes" crushed the capital's "Rebel" (4:0), and Sumy's "Victoria" overcame Khmelnytskyi's "Podillya" (3:1).

Center-Field Masterpiece and Sensational Exit

The match in Kiev deserves special attention, where the local "Lokomotyv" hosted "Probiy" from Horodenka in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. The "Railwaymen", who reached the quarter-finals last season, were sensationally eliminated at the start this time: finding themselves a man down after a dismissal and conceding two goals, the Kyiv team produced the main highlight of the round — Sakhnenko spotted the opposing goalkeeper coming out and struck a fantastic shot directly from the center of the field. However, this masterpiece did not save the team from elimination.

European Competitors and Regulatory Nuances

Four Ukrainian participants in the 2026/27 European competitions — "Shakhtar", LNZ, "Polesie", and "Dynamo" — will join the tournament only from the Round of 16. The Round of 32 matches will continue on Saturday and Sunday, August 22–23, and it is on these days that the UPL representatives will start. In one of the matches, two elite clubs will meet: on Saturday in Lviv, the local "Karpaty" will face the capital's "Obolon".

Outcomes and Significance of the Round

The first matches of the Ukrainian Cup 2026/27 showed that the tournament again promises surprises: from crushing victories by favorites to sensational exits and individual masterpieces. The further part of the round, with the participation of UPL teams, should determine which squads will advance to the Round of 16 and continue the fight for the main national trophy.