Ukrainian Premier League Postpones Zorya vs. Shakhtar Match for National Team Preparations.

Schedule for Round 21 of the Ukrainian Championship

According to Novyny.live: The Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) has announced the schedule for the 21st round of the Ukrainian Championship. Notably, the match between Zorya and Shakhtar has been postponed indefinitely. This decision follows a request from the Ukrainian Association of Football's (UAF) National Teams Committee, headed by Serhiy Rebrov, to facilitate the national team's preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualification playoffs. The Ukrainian national team, under Rebrov's leadership, is set to play its next match on March 26, 2023, against Sweden. The postponement highlights the significant priority given to the national team's crucial path to the World Cup.

Other Fixtures in Round 21

Despite the postponement, several other matches are scheduled for the round:

• March 18 at 18:00 - 'Kudrivka' vs. 'Polissia'
• March 19:
  • 'Oleksandriya' vs. 'Dynamo' at 13:00
  • 'Metalist 1925' vs. 'Poltava' at 18:00
• March 21:
  • 'Kryvbas' vs. 'Epitsentr' at 13:00
  • 'Rukh' vs. 'LNZ' at 15:30
• March 22:
  • 'Veres' vs. 'Kolos' at 15:30
  • 'Karpaty' vs. 'Obolon' at 18:00

Therefore, fans can still anticipate exciting fixtures in this round, even with the Zorya-Shakhtar match being rescheduled.

The postponement of the Zorya-Shakhtar match underscores the priority placed on preparing the national team for international competition by the UAF.

This move also demonstrates how domestic football is adapting to support the national squad's needs, which may have further implications for the league calendar. Supporters are eagerly awaiting the other matches of the round, which promise to be compelling and intense.