Open football festivals are back: UAF launches a new season in Transcarpathia, involving children who have never played football in the game.

The first "Open Football Festival" in 2026, implemented by the Ukrainian Football Association together with regional associations with the support of the Danish organization CISU as part of the "Youth-Led Recovery and Resilience in Ukraine" program, was held at the stadium in the village of Yanoshi in the Zakrpat region.

115 fifth-grade students from 14 schools in the Beregovskaya urban territorial community and a team from Kyiv participated. Since most of the children had never played football before, the training was aimed at basic physical, technical, and tactical training.

The project activities are implemented by youth leaders who have undergone special training by the UAF and organize volunteer football initiatives in their communities - in particular for children affected by the war. In the 2025/2026 season, the youth hub of the Zakarpattia region is based in the Beregovska community.

Photo Transcarpathian Football Association