U-17/U-19: UEFA released details of the new formats of the European youth championships

28.09.2023 16:33

Photo by uefa.com

UEFA has planned a new format of European championships for youth national teams in the U-17 and U-19 age categories.

The new Euro format among U-17 youth teams will start from the 2024/2025 season, and among U-19 youth teams from the 2026/2027 season. About this reports the UEFA official website reports . 

Key changes

Starting from the 2024/2025 season, Euro U-17 qualification will consist of two stages, called Round 1 and Round 2. All teams (including the hosts of the final tournament) will compete in both stages, with Round 2 divided into League A and League IN.

Eight teams, including the hosts, will participate in the final tournament of Euro U-17.

Starting from the 2026/2027 season, the Euro U-19 qualification will consist of three rounds, which will be divided into League A and League B, as was done for Round 2 of the Euro U-17 2024/2025 season. The first two rounds will be held in the format of two leagues. The hosts of the final tournament will take part in them. Round 3 will resemble the current Elite Round with 28 teams.

Eight teams, including the hosts, will continue to participate in the Euro U-19 final tournament. 

In the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 seasons, Euro U-19 will be held according to the old format, which includes a qualifying round, an elite selection round and a final tournament.

Euro U-17 format from the 2024/2025 season

The qualification will consist of two stages, now called Round 1 (Autumn) and Round 2 (Spring). As now, both rounds will be held as mini-tournaments on the same court.

Round 1

All declared teams will participate in Round 1, including the hosts of the final tournament (who are currently not participating in the qualifiers and will be guaranteed a place in the final under the new format). Participants will be divided into 14 groups of four or three teams, depending on the number of participating associations.

After Round 1, 28 teams will be able to participate in Round 2 of League A, while the rest will go to League B.

In subsequent seasons, the results of Round 1 will count towards the draw for Round 1 of the following cycle.

The Round 1 draw will be made in December of the previous year (eg December 2023 for Round 1 of the 2024/2025 season).

Round 2

The 28 teams in League A will be divided into seven groups of four. The seven group winners will qualify to join the hosts in the final tournament. If the hosts are among the seven group winners, the best second-placed team also qualifies.

Seven fourth-placed teams in League A groups will be transferred to League B to participate in Round 1 of Euro U-19 for the same age group (teams relegated from League A in Round 2 of Euro U-17 season-2024/ 2025, will start round 1 Euro U-19 of the 2026/2027 season in the League AT).

In League B, the teams will be divided into seven groups of four or three depending on the number of participants. The seven winners of League B will be promoted to League A for Round 1 of the Euro U-19 for the same age category (teams that were promoted from League B in Round 2 of the Euro U-17 season-2024/2025 will start Round 1 of the Euro U-19 season -2026/2027 in League A).

The draw for Round 2 will be held in the December following Round 1 (eg December 2024 for Round 2 of the 2024/2025 season).

The final tournament

Eight teams will participate in the final tournament, which will initially compete in two groups of four teams each. The two best teams from each of them will advance to the semi-finals.

The 2025 final tournament will be considered a European qualifying tournament for the 17 U-2025 World Cup. The organizer, dates and number of participating European teams will be announced later.

Euro U-19 format from the 2026/2027 season

The qualification will be divided into three rounds. In the 2026/2027 season, Round 1 will be played in Spring 2026, Round 2 in Autumn 2026 and Round 3 in Spring 2027. This scheme will be repeated in the following seasons. As now, eight teams will participate in the final tournament. The hosts of the final tournament will compete in the qualifiers, although their place in the final will be guaranteed.

Round 1

The teams will be divided into League A (28 national teams) and League B (the rest of the participants). The distribution will take place according to the results of round 2 of the qualification of the corresponding Euro U-17 (for the Euro U-19 season-2026/2027, the composition of the Leagues will be determined by the results of the round 2 of the Euro U-17 season-2024/ 2025).

League A teams will be divided into seven groups of four teams each. The fourth-placed teams will be relegated to League B for Round 2.

League B teams will be divided into seven groups of four or three teams depending on the number of participants. The group winners will advance to Round 2 of the A League.

The Round 1 draw will be made in December of the previous year (eg December 2025 for Round 1 of the 2026/2027 season).

Round 2

Teams in League A will be divided into seven groups of four teams each. The fourth-placed teams are eliminated.

League B teams will be divided into seven groups of four or three teams depending on the number of participants. The group winners will advance to League A for Round 3, while the remaining teams will be relegated.

The Round 2 draw will take place after the completion of Round 1 (eg June/July 2026 for Round 2 of Season-2026/2027).

Round 3

The format of Round 3 will resemble the current Elite Round: 28 teams are divided into seven groups of four. The seven group winners will advance to the final tournament, joining the hosts.

The Round 3 draw will take place after Round 2 is completed (eg December 2026 for Round 3 of the 2026/2027 season).

The final tournament

Eight teams will participate in the final tournament, as now, which will initially compete in two groups of four teams each, with the best two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

In even-numbered years, the final tournament will continue to be a European qualifying tournament for the following year's U-20 World Cup (e.g. Euro U-19 2028 will be a qualifier for the 20 U-2029 World Cup).