The head coach of the Ukraine U-16 team Vladimir Samborsky commented on the results of the first qualifying round draw for Euro 2027 (U-17).

On December 10, the draw for the first qualifying round of Euro 2027 among players aged up to 17 took place. According to its results, Ukraine's team (currently U-16, with players born in 2010 or later) ended up in group 9, where their opponents are teams from Montenegro, Poland, and England.

In this regard, the head coach of the blue-and-yellow team Vladimir Samborsky gave a comment to the official website of the UAF:

— A normal draw. In youth football, it doesn't make sense to think that someone is stronger and someone weaker. For example, in 2009 not only our team failed to qualify for the second qualifying round, but also teams from the Netherlands and England did as well. This shows that a team can be a favorite on paper, but in play everyone is equal. There's no need to fear anyone.

We need to gain experience and play as many international matches as possible. Again, taking our friendly games with the Italians as an example, I can say that some of our boys are playing their first match at this level, while in the opposition team there are many who have already played close to 20 similar matches. A coach can support players and set them up, but most importantly — it's game experience, even unofficial matches, especially early on when the team is forming.

I don't want to place teams in positions before the tournament. We will instill confidence in our footballers that Ukraine can play on equal terms with such national teams as, for example, England's.

Euro 2027 (U-17). First qualifying round

Group 1: Ireland, Denmark, Wales, Estonia.

Group 2: Germany, Northern Ireland, Lithuania, Azerbaijan.

Group 3: Spain, Switzerland, Israel, Liechtenstein.

Group 4: Sweden, Scotland, Finland, Albania.

Group 5: Slovakia, Norway, Netherlands, Malta.

Group 6: Portugal, Serbia, Bulgaria, Andorra.

Group 7: Iceland, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gibraltar.

Group 8: Czech Republic, Slovenia, Belarus, Moldova.

Group 9: Montenegro, Poland, Ukraine, England.

Group 10: France, Italy, Luxembourg, Andorra.

Group 11: Turkey, North Macedonia, Hungary, San Marino.

Group 12: Belgium, Croatia, Latvia, Kosovo.

Group 13: Cyprus, Romania, Faroe Islands.

Group 14: Kazakhstan, Austria, Georgia.

In this round, 54 teams were divided into 12 groups of four and two groups of three. The mini-tournaments will take place from July 1 to November 17, 2026. Fourteen group winners and fourteen second-place finishers qualify for the second round of League A. The remaining 26 teams will participate in the second round of League B.

The second qualifying round in spring 2027 will determine seven teams that join the host, Latvia, at the Euro 2027 (U-17) finals and also form a UEFA zone selection for the 2027 World Cup (U-17) in Qatar. The Latvian team will also participate in the qualification process, although they have an automatic place in the final tournament.