Ukraine

Ukraine: football in the shadow of war

Ukraine remains an important participant in European football, although the war with Russia has significantly changed the way its clubs operate. Teams continue to compete in European competitions and earn points for the UEFA rankings, but home matches often have to be played outside the country.

Ukraine's place in the UEFA rankings

In recent years, Ukraine's position in the UEFA country coefficient ranking has changed significantly. However, the country remains among the stronger representatives of European football outside the very top tier. Ukraine's coefficient is built primarily by Shakhtar Donetsk, Dynamo Kyiv, Dnipro-1, Zorya Luhansk, Vorskla Poltava and other clubs that have competed in European competitions at various times.

The situation is not as stable as it was before the war began. Ukraine has lost some of the clubs that previously competed regularly in Europe, while the domestic league has had to operate under limited security, financial difficulties and interruptions caused by air-raid alerts. Every point earned in European competitions therefore has a double significance — it improves the country's position in the rankings while also showing that Ukrainian football continues to operate despite the realities of war.

In the past, Ukrainian clubs were capable of achieving very strong results. Shakhtar Donetsk won the UEFA Cup, while Dynamo Kyiv was one of the most recognizable teams in Eastern European football for many years. Both clubs regularly competed in the Champions League and remain the biggest brands in Ukrainian football.

Matches played abroad

Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, UEFA decided that Ukrainian teams could not play their home matches on Ukrainian territory. The reason is the security situation and the risks associated with missile and drone attacks. As a result, nominally home matches for Ukrainian clubs are played at neutral venues outside the country.

The choice of a foreign stadium depends on logistics, stadium availability and the possibility of accommodating supporters. Ukrainian teams have used stadiums in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and other European countries. Dynamo Kyiv played its matches in Lublin, while Shakhtar Donetsk have played, among other places, in Warsaw, Kraków, Hamburg and Gelsenkirchen.

Challenges and the importance of Ukrainian clubs

Playing outside their own country means additional costs, longer journeys and the loss of a genuine home advantage. Clubs also lose part of their ticket revenue, while supporters have to travel hundreds of kilometres to watch their team play.

Despite these problems, Ukrainian teams remain present in European competition. Their results matter not only for the UEFA rankings but also for maintaining the country's sporting identity. Every match played outside Ukraine is a reminder that Ukrainian football continues to operate and fight for its place in Europe despite the ongoing war.