​This Thursday, July 9, our training camp will culminate in a friendly match at 17:30 CEST in Saalfelden. As the kickoff approaches, fans with even a casual interest in Ukrainian football might be wondering about our opponents: Kharkiv FC. The club that finished fifth last season underwent a rebranding this summer to highlight its heritage, and Metalist 1925 officially became Kharkiv FC in June.
Like us, Kharkiv FC will start its league campaign on August 1 with a home game. However, due to ongoing disruptions, the team cannot host matches at their own stadium at the moment. With security concerns stemming from Russian attacks, the club from eastern Ukraine is currently playing its home fixtures in exile in Kyiv under stringent safety measures.
In preparation for the new season, Kharkiv FC has strengthened its squad with several young talents in midfield and attack, emphasizing a possession-focused style of play. In a recent friendly against Young Boys, the Ukrainians were defeated 0-2, highlighting that while the team is developing, they are still building chemistry ahead of the competitive campaign.
If you’d like to watch the Saalfelden match live, tickets for the 17:30 CEST kickoff are available through the FC Pinzgau Saalfelden online shop. For those unable to attend in person, we will provide a free YouTube stream of the game so supporters can tune in from anywhere. Don’t miss your chance to see Kharkiv FC test themselves against our squad in this exciting pre-season clash. Secure your tickets now!