On Friday, September 18, 2026, the draw for the Round of 16 of the 2026/27 Ukrainian Cup was held at the House of Football. The ceremony, dedicated to the tournament's title sponsor — VETON — took place at 10:00 and determined the matchups for the next round of the cup competition. The main and most anticipated event of the draw was the pairing in which Shakhtar and Kyiv's Dynamo will face each other as early as the Round of 16. Thus, one of the key matches in Ukrainian football will take place before the quarter-final stage, adding extra intrigue and spectacle to the cup tournament.
Shakhtar — Dynamo: the headline pairing of the round
The rivalry between Donetsk's Shakhtar and Kyiv's Dynamo is traditionally considered one of the most exciting in Ukrainian football, so their early meeting in the cup generated particular interest. As a reminder, the "miners" were among the last to advance to the Round of 16, comfortably beating Olkhovets. They now await a crucial clash with Dynamo, which also confidently overcame the previous round. For both teams, this match will be an important test against the backdrop of a tight schedule and the league title race.
Round of 16 participants
In the Round of 32, eleven UPL representatives advanced, along with two clubs from the First League and two amateur teams. The Round of 16 bracket was formed from this pool. At the same time, the last participant in the round has not yet been determined and will be named later, leaving a small element of suspense until the full list of pairs is finalized. Such a composition of participants reflects the broad geography and multi-level nature of the cup tournament, in which the strongest elite clubs face representatives of lower divisions and amateur football.
Postponement of the Trostianets — Chernihiv match
Particular attention should be paid to the situation with the Trostianets — Chernihiv match, which was scheduled for September 17 but did not take place due to a prolonged air raid alert. The match has been rescheduled to October 6 and will kick off at 11:00. The result of this game will determine the last participant in the Round of 16 of the Ukrainian Cup. The postponement is related to safety concerns and the need to ensure proper conditions for the match, which under current realities is becoming an increasingly common factor in the scheduling of Ukrainian tournaments.
Tournament format
As a reminder, in the Ukrainian Cup each stage consists of a single match. In the event of a draw after regular time, the teams proceed directly to a penalty shootout, without extra time. This format makes every cup match maximally tense and unpredictable, and the early Shakhtar — Dynamo pairing promises to become one of the main events of the autumn part of the season.
