Vancouver, April 29, 2026. 

KNVB and Ukrainian Association of Football strengthen ties with Memorandum of Understanding

Vancouver, 29 April 2026. The Royal Netherlands Football Association and the Ukrainian Association of Football have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking a new chapter in the longstanding friendship between Dutch and Ukrainian football.

The agreement was signed in the margins of the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, by the presidents and general secretaries of both associations: Mr Andrii Shevchenko, President of the Ukrainian Association of Football; Igor Gryshchenko, General Secretary of the Ukrainian Association of Football; Frank Paauw, President of the Royal Netherlands Football Association; and Gijs de Jong, General Secretary of the Royal Netherlands Football Association.

Marianne van Leeuwen, Vice-President of the Royal Netherlands Football Association, was also present in Vancouver as part of the KNVB’s top-level delegation, underlining the importance the KNVB attaches to the relationship with Ukrainian football.

With this Memorandum of Understanding, the two associations confirm their shared ambition to deepen cooperation and exchange knowledge in areas that contribute to the sustainable development of football. The partnership will focus on themes such as coach education, referee development, youth football, women’s football, good governance, and the broader organisation of football in challenging circumstances.

For the KNVB, the agreement is also a recognition of the remarkable strength and perseverance shown by Ukrainian football in recent years. Despite the ongoing challenges faced by the country, Ukrainian colleagues have continued to protect, organise, and develop the game with exceptional dedication. Their resilience has made a lasting impression across the European football community.

“Football is built on connection, trust, and solidarity,” said Frank Paauw, President of the Royal Netherlands Football Association. “Our Ukrainian colleagues have shown extraordinary resilience and commitment to the game. With this Memorandum of Understanding, we want to strengthen our friendship and contribute, where we can, to the future of football in Ukraine.”

Mr Andrii Shevchenko, President of the Ukrainian Association of Football, underlined the importance of international cooperation. “We greatly value the friendship and support of the KNVB. This agreement creates new opportunities to learn from each other, to develop our people, and to build an even stronger future for Ukrainian football.”

The signing in Vancouver reflects the close relationship between the two associations and their shared belief in football’s power to bring people together. In the coming period, the KNVB and the Ukrainian Association of Football will jointly identify concrete projects and exchange programmes that give practical substance to the agreement.

Through this cooperation, both associations aim not only to share expertise, but also to celebrate the values that connect them: friendship, solidarity, resilience, and a deep love for football.

The Royal Netherlands Football Association is one of the benchmarking football associations in Europe, famous for its good-structured work at both - national association's governance and management of football system, in particular, in youth and amateur football, club cooperation, VAR implementation, football for people with disabilities, to constant success of professional clubs and national teams.