Our record-breaking men’s soccer team began preparations for the 2026–27 season on June 8 under the guidance of new head coach Balázs Borbély. After two preseason matches played at the training camp in Austria, it was time for the first competitive match: the UEFA Europa League qualifier against Serbian runner-up FK Vojvodina. The green-and-white delegation arrived at the venue on Wednesday; as has been customary in the past, the FTC-MVM Népliget Sports Center hosted the final training session.

For the match in Novi Sad, our head coach selected the following line-up:

Dibusz – Cadu, Gómez, Raemaekers, Osváth – Kanikovszki, Keita, Corbu – Lisztes, Yusuf, Zachariassen.

This match marked also the debut of our new away jersey, which is truly special, given that it features elements from both the club’s and Ferencváros’s history.

First Half

Pleasant weather and a great atmosphere set the tone for our team’s first European cup match of the year. Both teams got right into the action, each looking to set the tone for the evening early on. Fortunately, we were the ones who succeeded: Kristoffer Zachariassen received a great pass on the right wing, and after a quick move, he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper, putting us ahead after just eight minutes (0-1).

As the game continued, our team tried to stop the opponent with a series of minor fouls. Naby Keita played well in midfield and occasionally managed to find Osváth, who was running unmarked down the wings. In the 24th minute, Kanikovszki took a free kick, but his shot was off target. A few minutes later, the attack from the other side was more successful; the home team could only clear the ball briefly, so Nikolics cleared the ball from Yusuf at the last moment after it was played from the left into the center. In the closing minutes of the first half, Vojvodina created a chance after a turnover in our own half, but they ultimately failed to get a shot off. Our team’s ball recovery was also effective, but Lisztes headed Osváth’s cross over the bar. This came back to haunt us: after the missed opportunity, we failed to clear the ball at the goal line, and following Mitrovics’s header, the ball deflected off Raemaekers and into our net, sending the teams into halftime tied at 1-1.  

Second Half

Vojvodina continued to dictate the play in the second half; we needed Dénes Dibusz’s reflexes - and a bit of luck off the post - to keep the score tied. Fortunately, we quickly broke through this stalemate and put pressure on Roszics’s goal. Both Zachariassen and Joseph came close to scoring our second goal, but the defenders cleared the danger. Both teams pushed hard in the final twenty minutes, but even though we pinned our opponents back into their own penalty area, their counterattacks always posed a threat. Coach Tanjga freshened up the red-and-whites with substitutions, but we didn’t bring on any fresh legs. In the final ten minutes, Vojvodina hit the crossbar with a massive shot, after which we seemed completely rattled. Naby Keita, however, played perhaps his best game in green and white, and after his through ball, Yusuf scored against his former team with a beautiful shot (1–2).

After the goal, Ferencváros made a triple substitution, taking off both of our goal scorers. There were still a few big chances for the home team toward the end, but they ultimately failed to find the net.

Balázs Borbély thus made his competitive debut on the Fradi bench with a victory, and our team heads into the second leg with the advantage!

The second leg of the Ferencvárosi TC vs. FK Vojvodina Europa League qualifier will be held on Thursday, July 16, at 8:15 p.m. at Groupama Arena.