Before the World Cup playoff match between Ukraine and Sweden in Valencia, a football festival took place that gathered Ukrainians from abroad. People came not only for the game but also to see each other, communicate, and support Ukraine.

In the first, historic, European championship among Ukrainian diaspora teams, representatives of ten countries played. The champions were the Ukrainian team from Austria. And the best players from each team were invited to the gala match.

Photo UAFA

The event was organized by the Sobetsky Family Charitable Fund, LLC "Agrobusiness," Association of SSOC veterans, Ukrainian Association of Football Veterans, with support from the Ukrainian Football Association.

In the gala match against the diaspora team, an united team of National Team veterans and Special Forces troops played. For some, football is a routine matter; for others, it's a rare opportunity to step away from duty for a few hours.

Among the united team were Mykhailo Marchevych, Oleh Sobetsky, Vitaliy Samoylov, Maxim Kalynichenko, Oleksiy Dovhyi, Andriy Khomin, Yuriy Pankiv, Sergiy Barilko and Special Forces troops Vitaliy Nagorny, Sergiy Tarovyk, Bohdan Shulyak, Oleksandr Kozak, Yevhen Kindychenko. They were selected by their commanders for successfully completed combat tasks.

Photo UAFA

The match ended with a score of 3:1 in favor of the united team. Among the goals, Maxim Kalynichenko and Vitaliy Samoylov stood out.

Such matches are not held for the first time. In the spring of last year, the Ukrainian Football Association and Special Forces agreed on cooperation, and since then, veterans have been joining the team. In November, this team already won in Warsaw – 3:1 against the veteran team from Poland. Wherever Ukrainians are, they find a way to be together and support those who are now at the forefront.

Oleh Sobetsky, President of the Ukrainian Association of Football Veterans: "Our brave military, especially special forces, protect our country and give football players, people from other professions, the opportunity to engage in their favorite activity. This time, over 30 soldiers visited Spain and supported the national team from the stands at the stadium. It is now a tradition for special forces to play football together with Ukrainian football legends. This is our gratitude for protecting Ukraine. The stadium greeted them with applause as true heroes of modernity. For full support in organizing the visit, I want to thank the entire team of the Ukrainian Football Association and especially Andriy and Oleksandr Shevchenkams. The soldiers felt care, attention, and a lot of words of gratitude. Everyone wants an end to the war and understands who will make it happen. That's why today Ukrainians need to unite in support of ZSU."