{"id":29916,"date":"2026-06-05T12:14:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T19:14:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/?p=29916"},"modified":"2026-06-05T12:22:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T19:22:25","slug":"pershyj-match-zbirnoi-ukrainy-z-futbolu-u-ssha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/en\/2026\/06\/05\/pershyj-match-zbirnoi-ukrainy-z-futbolu-u-ssha\/","title":{"rendered":"The First Match of the Ukraine National Football Team in the United States"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Ukrainian press in the United States covered the first match of the Ukraine national football team on American soil extensively and in great detail. After all, nothing like this had ever happened in the history of either country. Here is how the press wrote about this unique event: \u201cThe Ukraine national football team will perform in the USA for the first time. The football team of free and independent Ukraine will, for the first time in football history, play in the USA against the representative team of America. This sole appearance of Ukraine\u2019s footballers in the USA will take place on Saturday, June 27, at 5 p.m. at Rutgers University Stadium in New Brunswick, N.J.\u201d Exactly so: it was the national team of a free and independent Ukraine that had regained its freedom and freed itself from Soviet occupation.<\/span><\/p>

Already in the early 1990s, in Ukraine \u2014 then still occupied by the USSR \u2014 calls for restoring political independence and establishing sporting independence were becoming more frequent. On the agenda was the creation of a national football championship and, of course, the formation and first matches of the Ukraine national team. On June 27, 1992, the Ukraine national team played its second friendly match. This time \u2014 against the United States national team. Although the match had friendly status, the resonance was enormous and loud.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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It was specifically for this match that \u201cUkraine National Football Team Day in New Jersey\u201d was proclaimed in the United States! Here is how it was described: \u201cThe Preparatory Committee for the meeting of the national football teams of Ukraine and America, in which, among others, Yevhen Chyzovych serves as director of preparations, Myron Stebelskyi and Omelian Tvardovskyi \u2014 all members of the leadership of the Ukrainian Sports Central of America and Canada \u2014 received news that June 27 of this year, the day of the match, would be proclaimed by Governor James Florio as \u2018Ukraine National Football Team Day.\u2019\u201d Can you imagine such a thing?! It is truly unique, as not all football teams that played in the United States received such honors and recognition. Moreover, the appearance of the Ukraine national team attracted the interest of American politicians: \u201cThe arrival of the Ukraine national team has drawn the attention of a number of state and city officials, who are preparing to properly welcome the athletes of independent Ukraine. The leadership of the Ukrainian Sports Central received a greeting letter from Senator Bill Bradley, who expressed his congratulations to the players and their leadership.\u201d The Ukrainian team\u2019s appearance indeed attracted massive attention from the Ukrainian community in the United States, politicians, government officials, representatives of state authorities, and fans.<\/span><\/p>

The significance and importance of this match, even though it was considered a friendly, is evidenced by the fact that a Preparatory Committee was created for the meeting of the Ukraine and U.S. national teams. The committee included well-known American football players and officials of Ukrainian descent: Yevhen Chyzovych \u2014 director of preparations, Myron Stebelskyi and Omelian Tvardovskyi \u2014 all members of the leadership of the Ukrainian Sports Central of America and Canada.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The thorough preparation for the match is evidenced by the fact that on May 22, a regular meeting of the USCAC Business Committee with representatives of the U.S. Soccer Federation\u2019s Promotion Commission took place at the home of the USVT \u201cChornomorska Sich.\u201d The key points of the meeting were:<\/span><\/p>