Futsal World Cup 2028 Qualifying: Ukraine Hit Nine Past Estonia in Ruthless Opener
Ukraine’s road to the 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup could hardly have started better. The World Cup bronze medallists thrashed Estonia 9-2 in Rakvere on Tuesday night, laying down an early marker in UEFA’s main round of qualifying.
Daniil Abakshyn was the star of the show, completing a hat-trick inside the opening 18 minutes with strikes in the 1st, 12th and 18th. Mykola Mykytiuk added two more (10th, 15th), while Rostyslav Semenchenko (11th), Ihor Cherniavskyi (20th), Vadym Danyliuk (26th) and Illia Prykhodko (32nd) all got on the scoresheet. Estonia briefly led through Denys Vnukov in the 2nd minute and grabbed a second via a Nazar Shved own goal — but this was Ukraine’s night from the first whistle.
Group 9: Ukraine and Slovakia set the early pace
The result puts Ukraine level with Slovakia on three points at the top of Group 9 after the opening round, with Estonia still on zero. The two favourites meet next on November 10 — a game that could well decide who takes the group.
The format leaves no room for slip-ups: group winners go straight to the elite round, the four best runners-up join them, and the remaining eight runners-up drop into the main-round play-offs. Goal difference could yet matter — and Ukraine’s +7 is already a very healthy start. Still getting your head around how World Cup qualifying works in the indoor game? Our complete beginner’s guide to futsal breaks down the format.
Bronze medallists mean business
This is exactly the kind of statement performance you expect from a side that finished third at the last World Cup. Ukraine’s bronze in Uzbekistan — sealed with a 7-1 demolition of France in the third-place match — confirmed their status among Europe’s elite, and they currently sit ninth in the FIFA rankings.
Estonia, to their credit, came through the preliminary round to reach this stage, but the gulf in class was obvious in Rakvere. Ukraine now have Slovakia in their sights — and on this evidence, few would bet against them topping the group.
