The second final stage of the All-Ukrainian school football tournament "School Ball" (first round of Uzhhorod) took place at the Uzhhorod Stadium «Avangard».

For almost 60 years, students from secondary schools in Ukraine have participated in the "Leather Ball" competitions. This was an incredible mass tournament. Over 50,000 teams competed in age categories of 14, 13, 12 years and younger. The finals were held on large stadiums in district centers across Ukraine. Most importantly, participants were not junior football players who trained at sports schools or preparatory groups affiliated with professional clubs, but children who loved football and played it on school playgrounds, in courtyards, and backyards. Mass participation was the key factor here. Coaches of sports schools watched these matches with satisfaction and invited a large number of talented boys to their teams who had not engaged in football at a professional level for various reasons.

Photo zaf.org.ua

In March 2025, the revived tournament — "School Ball" — began in our country with nearly 1,000 teams participating. By the season of 2025/2026, their number had grown to approximately 3,000 (around 50,000 children).

The second stage of multi-stage competitions — territorial community first rounds — has now begun. Ahead, starting from spring 2026, school teams will participate in district, regional, and national finals.

Photo zaf.org.ua

Currently, the All-Ukrainian "School Ball" tournament is increasing the mass participation of children's football in Ukraine, taking into account the very difficult situation in the country. Within these competitions, the Ukrainian Football Association has already transferred over 8,000 adidas balls to schools through regional associations.

Photo zaf.org.ua

The tasks facing the tournament organizers are to improve physical education and health work in general secondary educational institutions through mass football, strengthen students' health, engage them in regular football practice, identify talented players, popularize and develop football.

All-Ukrainian "School Ball" competitions take place under the auspices of the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF), the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. They are also supported by the Amateur Football Association of Ukraine, the Fedor Spiga Foundation, and the UAF Foundation. In Zakarpattia Oblast, the competitions are organized by the Department of Education, Youth and Sport of Zakarpattia OVA and the Zakarpattia Football Association.

As of today, in Zakarpattia Oblast, 30 communities have registered their schools for the "School Ball" season-2025/2026 (this is almost 70 teams of schoolchildren born in 2014 and younger):

Uzhhorod district — Baraninska, Syrtivska, Seredynska, Onokivska, Velikodoronska, Kostrynska, Uzhhorod city community;

Tyachiv district — Bushchynska, Solotvinska, Neresnitska communities;

Khust district — Horinchivska, Zarychna, Khust city community, Kereckyvska, Synyvirskiy, Mizhirska;

Berdykhiv district — Berdykhiv city, Velikoberezka, Vilotska, Vinogradivska city, Kamianska, Batyvska communities;

Rakhiv district — Bogdanska, Rakhiv city, Yasynian community;

Mukacheve district — Volovetska, Kolychna, Paliana, Stavnena, Chynadiyova communities.

The second stage of the competition takes place in November, but considering the large number of interested participants, registration has been extended. Physical education teachers can contact their community's education department for additional information.

Territorial community finals have already taken place in Berehiv city (winner — Taras Shevchenko Lyceum), Velikoberezka (winner — Dobray Petre Secondary School), Kolychna (winner — I-IIII grade secondary school), Paliana (winner — lyceum), Vilotska (winner — No. 1 secondary school), Zarychana (winner — gymnasium) and Vylkovec city (winner — lyceum). Now the final of the Uzhhorod territorial community has taken place, where teams from Lyceum № 15 (teacher — Kristina Shitev) and Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn (teacher — Olena Yakubets) met.

Photo zaf.org.ua

The match was incredibly tense, with goalkeepers performing well and saving their teams several times. Somewhere in the course of the game, a slight advantage seemed to be on the side of the young players from Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn, but the swift counterattacks by representatives of Lyceum № 15 were sharp and dangerous. The match kept everyone present at the stadium on edge until the final whistle ended in a scoreless draw. In the penalty shootout, luck smiled upon the students of Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn.

At the ceremonial awarding of participants in the final match, Deputy Chairman of ZAF, Director of Stadium "Avangard" Viktor Kachur, Head of Uzhhorod City Football Association Vasyl Homanay and players from FC «Uzhhorod» Antoniy Emerre and Ivan Ilchuk were present. Representatives of the professional club presented the best players of the match, Julian Kokayko (Lyceum № 15) and Julian Kudilchak (Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn), with balls signed by the main team's players from the regional center. From ZAF, teams received a set of mannequins and a set of tokens that are very useful for training sessions. Viktor Kachur presented the teams with footballs adidas from UAF.

Photo zaf.org.ua

The young football players were awarded diplomas and medals for participation, while the team from Lyceum named after Augustin Voloshyn received a cup as winners of the final match.

The next stages of the largest school tournaments "School Ball" will take place in 2026.