National League of the Future (NLF) is an updated championship of Ukraine in youth football, organised by the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF).

Starting from the 2025/2026 season, the championship officially received a new name, replacing the former abbreviation YUFL (Youth Football League of Ukraine). The main goal of the reform is to nurture a new generation of players for the Ukrainian national teams.
 

Competition Structure

The system consists of four divisions: PRO League, Elite League, Premier League, and First League. In the 2025/2026 season, the following clubs are participating: PRO League — 12 clubs (48 teams), Elite League — 40 clubs (160 teams), Premier League — 30 clubs (120 teams), First League — 80 clubs (160 teams).
 

Key Reforms and Innovations

A new PRO League has been introduced, comprising the 12 strongest clubs in the country, selected on a sporting merit basis using the results of the two previous seasons. This is intended to raise the level of competition and promote the development of talent.

 

Each club will have its own results table broken down by age category, as well as a cumulative club standings table reflecting overall achievements.

All PRO League matches will be broadcast centrally and free of charge on a single official YouTube channel. In addition, higher standards have been set for match organisation and refereeing, along with a modern and high-quality media presentation to make the tournament more engaging and accessible to fans.

 

NLF — is a systemic reform of youth football in Ukraine, aimed at identifying and developing talent from an early age and preparing players for the national teams.