2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification

Last updated
2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
Tournament details
Dates24 March 2023 – 19 November 2024
Teams52 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played166
Goals scored481 (2.9 per match)
Attendance320,412 (1,930 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of England.svg Harvey Elliott
(7 goals)
2023
2027
All statistics correct as of 1 April 2024.

The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification is a men's under-21 national football team competition to determine the 15 teams that will be joining the automatically qualified hosts Slovakia in the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament.

Contents

Apart from Slovakia, Liechtenstein (dissolved their U21 team until 2025) and Russia (banned due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine), all remaining 52 UEFA member national teams entered this qualifying competition. Players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible to participate.

Format

The qualifying competition will consist of the following two rounds:

Tiebreakers

In the qualifying group stage, teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 14.01): [1]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Away goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Wins in all group matches;
  9. Away wins in all group matches;
  10. Disciplinary points (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
  11. UEFA coefficient ranking for the qualifying group stage draw.

To determine the bests runner-up from the qualifying group stage, the results against the teams in sixth place are discarded. The following criteria are applied (Regulations Article 15.02): [1]

  1. Points;
  2. Goal difference;
  3. Goals scored;
  4. Away goals scored;
  5. Wins;
  6. Away wins;
  7. Disciplinary points;
  8. UEFA coefficient ranking for the qualifying group stage draw.

Schedule

StageDraw dateFIFA International Dates
Qualifying group stage2 February 2023 [2] FIFA date 1 (24–28 March 2023)
FIFA date 2 (15–20 June 2023)
FIFA date 3 (6–12 September 2023)
FIFA date 4 (12–17 October 2023)
FIFA date 5 (16–21 November 2023)
FIFA date 6 (21–26 March 2024)
FIFA date 7 (5–10 September 2024)
FIFA date 8 (10–15 October 2024)
Play-offsTBD1st leg (11 November 2024)
2nd leg (19 November 2024)

    Qualifying group stage

    Draw

    Final tournament host
    Team
    Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
    Pot 1
    Team
    Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
    Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
    Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
    Flag of France.svg  France
    Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
    Flag of England.svg  England
    Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
    Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
    Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
    Pot 2
    Team
    Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
    Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
    Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
    Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
    Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
    Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
    Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
    Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
    Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland
    Pot 3
    Team
    Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
    Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
    Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland
    Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
    Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
    Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
    Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia
    Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
    Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
    Pot 4
    Team
    Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
    Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
    Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
    Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia
    Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
    Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus
    Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland
    Flag of Albania.svg  Albania
    Pot 5
    Team
    Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo
    Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
    Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova
    Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania
    Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands
    Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus
    Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
    Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan
    Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
    Pot 6
    Team
    Flag of Malta.svg  Malta
    Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia
    Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
    Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra
    Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
    Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar
    Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino
    Banned from entering qualifying
    Team
    Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
    Did not enter
    Team
    Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein

    Each group contained one team from each of Pots 1–6 (Pots 1–5 for five-team group). Based on the decisions taken by the UEFA Emergency Panel, the following teams would not be drawn in the same group.

    Groups

    Group A

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Italy.svgFlag of Ireland.svgFlag of Norway.svgFlag of Latvia.svgFlag of Turkey.svgFlag of San Marino.svg
    1Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 7430163+1315 Final tournament 15 Oct '24 2–0 2–0 1–1 5 Sep '24
    2Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland 6411198+1113 Play-offs 2–2 11 Oct '24 10 Sep '24 3–2 3–0
    3Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6402216+1512 10 Sep '24 3–2 7–0 15 Oct '24 4–0
    4Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 621351277 [lower-alpha 1] 0–0 1–2 6 Sep '24 2–1 2–0
    5Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 6213118+37 [lower-alpha 1] 0–2 6 Sep '24 2–0 11 Oct '24 5–0
    6Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino (E)7007035350 0–7 0–7 0–7 15 Oct '24 10 Sep '24
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated
    Notes:
    1. 1 2 Ranked on head-to-head points: Latvia 3, Turkey 0.

    Group B

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Spain.svgFlag of Scotland.svgFlag of Belgium (civil).svgFlag of Hungary.svgFlag of Kazakhstan.svgFlag of Malta.svg
    1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 6510151+1416 Final tournament 1–0 1–0 2–0 10 Oct '24 15 Oct '24
    2Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 6411114+713 Play-offs 6 Sep '24 11 Oct '24 3–1 4–1 2–1
    3Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 741285+313 1–1 0–2 15 Oct '24 1–0 3–1
    4Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 731396+310 10 Sep '24 0–0 0–1 2–0 10 Oct '24
    5Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan (Y)6105314113 0–4 15 Oct '24 10 Sep '24 0–3 5 Sep '24
    6Flag of Malta.svg  Malta (E)6006218160 0–6 10 Sep '24 0–2 0–3 0–2
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may still qualify through play-offs

    Group C

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of the Netherlands.svgFlag of Georgia.svgFlag of Sweden.svgFlag of Moldova.svgFlag of North Macedonia.svgFlag of Gibraltar.svg
    1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 7700212+1921 Final tournament 9 Sep '24 14 Oct '24 3–0 5 Sep '24 1–0
    2Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 641163+313 Play-offs 0–3 0–0 5 Sep '24 15 Oct '24 2–0
    3Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 6312135+810 2–4 10 Oct '24 4–0 0–1 6 Sep '24
    4Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova (Y)720561596 [lower-alpha 1] 0–3 0–1 10 Sep '24 2–1 1–2
    5Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia (Y)62043746 [lower-alpha 1] 0–2 0–1 0–2 11 Oct '24 1–0
    6Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar (E)8107320173 0–5 0–2 0–5 1–3 9 Sep '24
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may still qualify through play-offs
    Notes:
    1. 1 2 Ranked on head-to-head points: Moldova 3, North Macedonia 0.

    Group D

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Germany.svgFlag of Poland.svgFlag of Bulgaria.svgFlag of Kosovo.svgFlag of Estonia.svgFlag of Israel.svg
    1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 6510154+1116 Final tournament 3–1 11 Oct '24 0–0 4–1 2–0
    2Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 7502146+815 Play-offs 15 Oct '24 0–1 3–0 5–0 2–1
    3Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 7331147+712 2–3 10 Sep '24 1–1 6–0 1–0
    4Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 723281029 0–3 11 Oct '24 2–2 2–0 3–1
    5Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia (E)6015219171 10 Sep '24 0–1 1–1 15 Oct '24 7 Sep '24
    6Flag of Israel.svg  Israel (E)500531070 4 Sep '24 1–2 15 Oct '24 10 Sep '24 10 Oct '24
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated

    Group E

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svgFlag of Romania.svgFlag of Finland.svgFlag of Albania.svgFlag of Montenegro.svgFlag of Armenia.svg
    1Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 6420166+1014 Final tournament 2–2 11 Oct '24 6 Sep '24 4–2 5–0
    2Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 6411135+813 Play-offs 15 Oct '24 1–0 5–0 6 Sep '24 2–0
    3Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 6312135+810 1–2 10 Sep '24 4–1 15 Oct '24 6–0
    4Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 7313915610 1–3 3–2 0–0 2–0 15 Oct '24
    5Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 51134844 10 Sep '24 11 Oct '24 1–2 21 Nov 0–0
    6Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia (E)8026117162 0–0 0–1 6 Sep '24 1–2 0–1
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated

    Group F

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Ukraine.svgFlag of England.svgFlag of Serbia.svgUlster Banner.svgFlag of Luxembourg.svgFlag of Azerbaijan.svg
    1Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 6600152+1318 [lower-alpha 1] Final tournament 3–2 6 Sep '24 1–0 4–0 1–0
    2Flag of England.svg  England 7601325+2718 [lower-alpha 1] Play-offs 11 Oct '24 9–1 3–0 7–0 15 Oct '24
    3Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 7313916710 15 Oct '24 0–3 1–2 2–0 2–0
    4Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland (Y)62044846 10 Sep '24 6 Sep '24 1–2 0–1 12 Oct '24
    5Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg (E)8116423194 0–3 0–3 1–1 15 Oct '24 6 Sep '24
    6Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan (E)6105414103 0–3 1–5 10 Sep '24 0–1 3–2
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may advance via the play-offs.
    Notes:
    1. 1 2 Ranked on head-to-head points: Ukraine 3, England 0.

    Group G

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Portugal.svgFlag of Greece.svgFlag of Croatia.svgFlag of the Faroe Islands.svgFlag of Belarus.svgFlag of Andorra.svg
    1Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 7601264+2218 Final tournament 2–0 5–1 4–0 6–1 3–0
    2Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 8422107+314 Play-offs 2–1 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–0
    3Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 6411139+413 10 Sep '24 15 Oct '24 5 Sep '24 2–0 11 Oct '24
    4Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 621381577 11 Oct '24 10 Sep '24 2–4 15 Oct '24 2–2
    5Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus (E)9135619136 0–5 1–0 0–1 2–3 0–0
    6Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra (E)803531293 15 Oct '24 0–1 0–3 0–1 1–1
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated

    Group H

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Slovenia.svgFlag of France.svgFlag of Austria.svgFlag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svgFlag of Cyprus.svg
    1Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 540195+412 Final tournament 0–4 1–0 3–0 10 Sep '24
    2Flag of France.svg  France 4301153+129 Play-offs 6 Sep '24 15 Oct '24 10 Sep '24 9–0
    3Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 522174+38 11 Oct '24 2–0 2–0 2–2
    4Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina (Y)510441063 1–2 1–2 6 Sep '24 15 Oct '24
    5Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus (Y)5023417132 0–3 11 Oct '24 1–1 1–2
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
    (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may advance via the play-offs

    Group I

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Denmark.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svgFlag of Iceland.svgFlag of the Czech Republic.svgFlag of Lithuania.svg
    1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 532094+511 [lower-alpha 1] Final tournament 2–2 15 Oct '24 10 Sep '24 3–0
    2Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 6321108+211 [lower-alpha 1] Play-offs 1–2 1–0 11 Oct '24 2–1
    3Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 42024626 6 Sep '24 10 Sep '24 2–1 10 Oct '24
    4Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 412164+25 0–0 1–1 4–1 15 Oct '24
    5Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania (E)500541170 1–2 2–3 0–1 6 Sep '24
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated
    Notes:
    1. 1 2 Ranked on head-to-head points: Denmark 4, Wales 1.

    Ranking of second-placed teams

    Only the results of the second-placed teams against the first, third, fourth and fifth-placed teams in their group are taken into account, while results against the sixth-placed team in six-team groups are not included. As a result, eight matches played by each second-placed team are counted for the purposes of determining the ranking. The top three teams qualify directly for the final tournament, while the other teams enter the play-offs.

    PosGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
    1 F Flag of England.svg  England 6501274+2315 Final tournament
    2 I Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 6321108+211
    3 B Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 531193+610
    4 H Flag of France.svg  France 4301153+129 Play-offs
    5 D Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 5302104+69
    6 G Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 622287+18
    7 E Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 4211105+57
    8 A Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland 421198+17
    9 C Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 42112317
    Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: [ citation needed ]
    Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) away goals scored; 5) wins; 6) away wins; 7) disciplinary points; 8) coefficient ranking.

    Play-offs

    Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
    1TBDTBD
    2TBDTBD
    3TBDTBD

    Top goalscorers

    There have been 332 goals scored in 110 matches, for an average of 3.02 goals per match (as of 20 November 2023).

    7 goals

    6 goals

    5 goals

    4 goals

    3 goals

    2 goals

    For full lists of goalscorers, see sections in each group:

    Related Research Articles

    The UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying tournament was a football competition that was played from September 2014 to November 2015 to determine the 23 UEFA member men's national teams joining the automatically qualified host team France in the UEFA Euro 2016 final tournament.

    The European qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup was a women's football tournament organized by UEFA. A record 46 entrants were competing for eight spots. For the first time Albania and Montenegro entered a senior competitive tournament. The first matches were held on 4 April 2013.

    The 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship started with a qualifying competition which began in March 2013 and finished in September 2014. The final tournament was held in the Czech Republic. The draw for the qualifying rounds was held on 31 January 2013 in Nyon, with matches played between March 2013 and September 2014.

    The UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying competition was a women's football competition that determined the 15 teams joining the automatically qualified hosts Netherlands in the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 final tournament.

    The 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying competition was a men's under-21 football competition that determined the 11 teams joining the automatically qualified hosts Poland in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship tournament final.

    The European qualifying competition for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup was a women's football competition that determined the eight UEFA teams joining the automatically qualified hosts France in the final tournament.

    The 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying competition was a men's under-21 football competition that determined the 11 teams joining the automatically qualified hosts Italy in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 UEFA European Under-17 Championship</span> International football competition

    The 2020 UEFA European Under-17 Championship was originally to be held as the 19th UEFA European Under-17 Championship, the annual international youth football championship organised by UEFA for the men's under-17 national teams of Europe, before being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Estonia, which were selected by UEFA on 9 December 2016, were originally to host the tournament. A total of 16 teams were originally to play in the tournament, with players born on or after 1 January 2003 eligible to participate.

    The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as AFCON 2025 or CAN 2025, is scheduled to be the 35th edition of the biennial African football tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It will be hosted by Morocco for the second time and the first since 1988 in July and August 2025. Morocco was originally scheduled to host the 2015 edition, but withdrew due to fears stemming from the Western African Ebola virus epidemic. Due to FIFA expanding its Club World Cup competition to 32 teams and having it scheduled for June and July that year, this edition of the tournament will be played a month later than was originally scheduled.

    The 2018–19 Liga I is the 29th season of the top level women's football league of the Romanian football league system. It will decide the Romanian champions and UEFA Women's Champions League participant.

    The 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying competition was a men's under-21 footballtournament that determined the 14 teams that would be joining the automatically qualified co-hosts Hungary and Slovenia in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship tournament final.

    The UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying competition was a women's football competition that determined the 15 teams joining the automatically qualified hosts England in the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final tournament.

    The 2022–23 UEFA Nations League was the third season of the UEFA Nations League, an international association football competition involving the men's national teams of the 55 member associations of UEFA. The competition was held from June to September 2022, June 2023, and March 2024.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying</span> International football competition

    The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying competition will be a women's football competition that determines the 15 teams joining the automatically qualified host Switzerland in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 final tournament.

    The 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying competition was a men's under-21 football competition to determine the 14 teams that would be joining the automatically qualified co-hosts Romania and Georgia in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament.

    The European qualifying competition for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was a women's football competition that determined the eleven UEFA teams which directly qualified for the final tournament in Australia and New Zealand, and the one team which advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.

    The 2024–25 UEFA Nations League will be the fourth season of the UEFA Nations League, an international association football competition involving the men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA. The competition will be held from September to November 2024, March 2025, June 2025 and March 2026.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)</span> International football competition

    The Asian section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will act as qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for national teams of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). AFC teams have been allocated eight direct qualifying slots and one inter-confederation play-off slot.

    The 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League was the inaugural season of the UEFA Women's Nations League, an international women's football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the member associations of UEFA. The league phase of the competition was played between September and December 2023, with the finals tournament taking place in February 2024. The results also determined the leagues for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying competition, and which two teams qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

    The UEFA Futsal Euro 2026 qualifying competition will be a men's futsal competition that determines the 14 teams joining the automatically qualified co-hosts Latvia and Lithuania in the UEFA Futsal Euro 2026 final tournament, which will be played on a four-year basis and featuring 16 teams.

    References

    1. 1 2 "Regulations of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship" (PDF). UEFA. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
    2. UEFA.com (2023-03-24). "2025 Under-21 EURO qualifying groups". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.

    Official website