UAF confirms new UPL regulations for the 2026/27 season

The Ukrainian Association of Football has officially approved the regulations for the Ukrainian Premier League for the 2026/27 season. These updates introduce significant changes to how the league operates, focusing on foreign player quotas, administrative fees, and competition structure.

Under the new rules, the foreign player limit has been adjusted. Teams can field up to seven foreign players, which increases to eight if at least one of them holds citizenship from an EU member state. Teams must ensure at least three or four Ukrainian players are on the pitch at any given time, depending on the composition of their foreign contingent.

The financial requirements have also been updated, with the fee for each foreign player rising to 400,000 UAH. These funds are earmarked to support refereeing in the National League of the Future and to provide financial incentives for clubs that prioritize playing time for Ukrainian players under 21.

Furthermore, the regulations introduce new protocols for postponing matches due to European competition participation and establish a new U-21 tournament for players born in 2005 or later, with specific allowances for a limited number of over-age players.