National U-19 League: first round matches played
The updated tournament has started — ahead is the first season in the new format.
On August 5, 2026, the National U-19 League Championship of the 2026/2027 season began. This competition will be the first after a major tournament update: the competition format, participants, and exchange principles between leagues have changed.
Follow the match results, standings, and broadcast announcements on the official U-19 championship website: https://u19.uaf.ua/
Results of the first round matches:
What has changed in the U-19 tournament?
At the end of July, the UAF approved an updated competition format for the national and regional U-19 leagues. The reform's focus is on increasing the competitiveness of youth competitions so that the composition of participants is based on sporting principles and the strength of teams, rather than geography or administrative decisions. It is in conditions of equal competition that young footballers can fully develop. Similar changes have already been implemented in youth and women's competitions.
National U-19 League. The tournament features 14 teams, and the championship is held in two rounds following the "autumn-spring" system.
Regional U-19 League. Clubs and sports schools are divided into four groups of 8-10 teams based on territorial principles. In the first stage, teams play two rounds within their groups, after which the group winners advance to the playoffs: the semifinal pairs are determined by drawing, each confrontation consists of two matches, and the teams that lose in the semifinals play a match for third place.
Exchange between leagues. The key idea of the reform is open sports rotation. The team that finishes 14th in the National League moves down to the Regional League. The winner of the Regional League is promoted directly, provided they meet the regulations' requirements and have a professional or semi-professional certificate. Three more teams get a chance through playoff matches: the second team of the RL plays against the 13th team of the NL, the third against the 12th, the fourth against the 11th. Each pair plays two matches, and the winner is determined by their sum. Thus, each participant in the Regional League has a real sporting path to the elite level.
Semi-professional status. Along with the new format, a semi-professional status for clubs is introduced, which is granted after certification. It allows clubs to enter into labor contracts with players on part-time terms, legally formalize the relationship between the club and the player, and protect clubs' investments in youth development.
