The First Annual Ukrainian Independence Day Soccer Tournament, organized by Ukraina Sports Association, took place successfully in Toronto on Saturday, August 22, 2026. The winner was the team representing Kyiv.
The tournament was held in Centennial Park in Toronto during the Independence Day of Ukraine celebrations, an event which is organized annually by the Congress of Ukrainians of Canada (CUC) Toronto in the same park. This was the first time a soccer tournament was held in conjunction with the annual celebrations.
Teams were formed on the basis of the regions of Ukraine. Nine teams participated in the tournament. Teams competed on smaller fields and played with five players and a goalkeeper. There were two senior team groups (over 35 years old) and one open team group.
Over 35 Group A – Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Bukovyna
Over 35 Group B – Lviv, Kyiv, Ternopil
Open Group – Ternopil, Lviv, Bukovyna
First place finishers after round-robin play in each group were Odesa, Lviv and Ternopil.
In the Over-35 semifinals, Kyiv (Central Ukraine) defeated Odesa, and Lviv beat Ivano-Frankivsk.
Lviv and Kyiv Central Ukraine) competed in the Over-35 final. Kyiv emerged victorious and thus became the first champions in the tournament.
There was no winner in the Open Division, because there was a fight between the teams of Lviv and Ternopil and both teams were disqualified.
The Board of Ukraina SA thanks all the players who took part in large numbers; captains who organized teams, and referees. Special thanks go to the main organizer of the tournament, Andriy Yaroshenko.
Ukraina SA plans to make the tournament an annual event.
