As Ukraine’s senior men’s national football team partakes in the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament, another aspect of Ukrainian football will be at work. During the competition, the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) will host an exhibition on Ukrainian football, culture, and history. The presentation will be on display from June 5 to June 10. The Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto, the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada in Toronto, and the Shevchenko Foundation partnered with the UAF for this event.
“We are incredibly proud to host this meaningful exhibition celebrating Ukraine’s rich football legacy,” said Adam Pecio, the President of the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada’s Toronto Branch. He added that the organization has had a “long and proud history of supporting Ukrainian [football].”
The goal of the exhibition is to “showcase different moments in Ukrainian football,” said Andriy Shevchenko during a press event at the Community Center. The UAF President added that the Game Goes On! presentation provided the Ukrainians with an opportunity to share “Ukrainian history and football to a wider audience.”
During the press event, Shevchenko expressed his thanks to the Canadian Soccer Association, the Canadian government, and the Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora for inviting the UAF to Toronto for the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament. He added that playing in Canada has “presented the national team with an opportunity to compete against non-European countries, thus broadening their experience with other national teams.”
Aside from this exposure to different countries and players, Shevchenko stated that coming to Toronto made sense, as it allowed the UAF to interact with the Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora. Canada has one of the world’s largest Ukrainian populations outside of Ukraine, and in some cases, playing in the Canadian Shield Tournament can be interpreted as playing in front of a home Ukrainian crowd. Shevchenko concluded the press event by thanking the Canadian government and the Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora community for their solidarity and support as they continue to send assistance to Ukraine during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The exhibition was a “testament to the special bond between Ukraine and Canada,” said Oleg Nikolenko, the Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto. “The opening of the exhibition is especially meaningful now, as many Ukrainians have arrived in Canada seeking refuge from [Russia’s] war. Through football, [this exhibition has] preserved their connection to Ukraine while also raising awareness among Canadians.”
Over 100 members of the local community attended the opening day of the exhibition. Following the press event with Shevchenko, attendees had an opportunity to examine the various memorabilia, trophies, and medals on display at the Community Center. At the start of the exhibition, the showroom featured a section on Ukraine’s participation in major international tournaments since its admission to FIFA and UEFA in 1992. The display had photographs and statements about Ukraine’s 2006 World Cup team, as well as their performances at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 European Championships.
“Sport is a unifying force that builds community while providing a platform for cultural expression,” stated Boris Balan, the President of the Shevchenko Foundation. “The Game Goes On promotes [Ukrainian] national identity and ignites the inspirational community spirit that brings [everyone] together in common purpose.”
The exhibition then took a more serious tone, shifting from joy and cheer to a focus on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The displays highlighted the importance of Ukraine’s participation at EURO 2024, where the players served as unofficial ambassadors for their country, giving their compatriots a reason to smile and cheer in an otherwise difficult period in history. Additionally, sections of the exhibit discussed how hundreds of Ukrainian footballers, as well as other athletes, abandoned their careers to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces and volunteer battalions in defense of their country.
To date, hundreds of former Ukrainian footballers, referees, managers, and officials have died during the war. Their memories were honored at the exhibition, where some of their military uniforms were on display. Others provided their former football jerseys for the exhibition. In addition, more than 25 military brigades contributed their battle flags, bearing messages of gratitude to the international community for its solidarity and support.
Finally, the exhibit had a display of various trophies won by Ukraine’s national teams, as well as Ukrainian clubs competing in European competitions. This included the UEFA Super Cup won by Dynamo Kyiv, the UEFA Europa League secured by Shakhtar Donetsk in 2009, and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Several player medals from these competitions were also on display, highlighting the success of Ukrainian football in recent years. In particular, Ukraine’s national teams and the Ukrainian clubs have continued to excel during Russia’s ongoing invasion, suggesting that Ukrainian spirits, football, and culture will not succumb to Russia’s war.
Overall, the exhibition presented a thorough overview of Ukrainian football since Ukrainian independence. The Ukrainian National Federation Community Center had over 300 artifacts on display from the different eras in Ukrainian football history, and each item in the exhibit shared a different story about Ukrainian football.
The UAF achieved its goal of informing others about Ukraine’s rich culture and history. Now, having learned more from the exhibit, the Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora will hope that members of the local community in Toronto will have a better sense of Ukraine’s story.