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 played170
Goals scored521 (3.06 per match)
Attendance332,456 (1,956 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of England.svg Harvey Elliott
(7 goals)
2023
2027
All statistics correct as of 7 June 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 Turkey.svgFlag of Latvia.svgFlag of San Marino.svg
    1Flag of Italy.svg  Italy (X)9630263+2321 Final tournament 15 Oct '24 2–0 1–1 2–0 7–0
    2Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland 85212210+1217 Play-offs 2–2 11 Oct '24 3–2 2–2 3–0
    3Flag of Norway.svg  Norway (Y)8503229+1315 0–3 3–2 15 Oct '24 7–0 4–0
    4Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey (E)83141710+710 0–2 0–1 2–0 11 Oct '24 5–0
    5Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia (E)822471588 0–0 1–2 0–1 2–1 2–0
    6Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino (E)9009148470 0–7 0–7 0–7 1–6 15 Oct '24
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated; (X) Assured of at least a play-off spot; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may still qualify through play-offs

    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 (Q)8710182+1622 Final tournament 1–0 1–0 2–0 10 Oct '24 15 Oct '24
    2Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland (Y)8512176+1116 [lower-alpha 1] Play-offs 1–2 11 Oct '24 3–1 4–1 2–1
    3Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (Y)8512115+616 [lower-alpha 1] 1–1 0–2 15 Oct '24 1–0 3–1
    4Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary (E)831497+210 0–1 0–0 0–1 2–0 10 Oct '24
    5Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan (E)8206718116 0–4 15 Oct '24 0–3 0–3 4–1
    6Flag of Malta.svg  Malta (E)8008327240 0–6 0–5 0–2 0–3 0–2
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may still qualify through play-offs
    Notes:
    1. 1 2 Ranked on head-to-head points: Scotland 3, Belgium 0.

    Group C

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of the Netherlands.svgFlag of Georgia.svgFlag of Sweden.svgFlag of North Macedonia.svgFlag of Moldova.svgFlag of Gibraltar.svg
    1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands (Q)9900293+2627 Final tournament 3–1 14 Oct '24 5–0 3–0 1–0
    2Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia (Y)8512106+416 Play-offs 0–3 0–0 15 Oct '24 3–0 2–0
    3Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden (Y)8422225+1714 2–4 10 Oct '24 0–1 4–0 9–0
    4Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia (E)830551279 0–2 0–1 0–2 11 Oct '24 1–0
    5Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova (E)9216618127 0–3 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–2
    6Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar (E)10109331283 0–5 0–2 0–5 0–2 1–3
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may still qualify through play-offs

    Group D

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Germany.svgFlag of Poland.svgFlag of Bulgaria.svgFlag of Kosovo.svgFlag of Israel.svgFlag of Estonia.svg
    1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany (X)8710306+2422 Final tournament 3–1 11 Oct '24 0–0 2–0 4–1
    2Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 8602177+1018 Play-offs 15 Oct '24 0–1 3–0 2–1 5–0
    3Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria (E)83321510+512 [lower-alpha 1] 2–3 1–3 1–1 1–0 6–0
    4Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo (Y)8332910112 [lower-alpha 1] 0–3 11 Oct '24 2–2 3–1 2–0
    5Flag of Israel.svg  Israel (E)8107516113 1–5 1–2 15 Oct '24 0–1 1–0
    6Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia (E)8017330271 1–10 0–1 1–1 15 Oct '24 10 Oct '24
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated; (X) Assured of at least a play-off spot; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may still qualify through play-offs
    Notes:
    1. 1 2 Head-to-head results: Bulgaria 1–1 Kosovo, Kosovo 2–2 Bulgaria.

    Group E

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svgFlag of Finland.svgFlag of Romania.svgFlag of Albania.svgFlag of Montenegro.svgFlag of Armenia.svg
    1Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 8521198+1117 Final tournament 11 Oct '24 2–2 1–2 4–2 5–0
    2Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 8512186+1216 [lower-alpha 1] Play-offs 1–2 2–0 4–1 15 Oct '24 6–0
    3Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 8512147+716 [lower-alpha 1] 15 Oct '24 1–0 5–0 1–0 2–0
    4Flag of Albania.svg  Albania (E)94141117613 1–3 0–0 3–2 2–0 15 Oct '24
    5Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro (E)821551167 0–2 1–2 11 Oct '24 1–0 0–0
    6Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia (E)9027220182 0–0 1–3 0–1 1–2 0–1
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated
    Notes:
    1. 1 2 Head-to-head results: Romania 1–0 Finland, Finland 2–0 Romania.

    Group F

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFlag of Ukraine.svgFlag of England.svgFlag of Serbia.svgFlag of Luxembourg.svgUlster Banner.svgFlag of Azerbaijan.svg
    1Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine (X)8800194+1524 Final tournament 3–2 2–1 4–0 1–0 1–0
    2Flag of England.svg  England (X)8611325+2719 Play-offs 11 Oct '24 9–1 7–0 3–0 15 Oct '24
    3Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia (E)94141218613 15 Oct '24 0–3 2–0 1–2 2–0
    4Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg (E)9216623177 [lower-alpha 1] 0–3 0–3 1–1 15 Oct '24 2–0
    5Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland (E)821551057 [lower-alpha 1] 1–2 0–0 1–2 0–1 12 Oct '24
    6Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan (E)8107418143 0–3 1–5 0–2 3–2 0–1
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated; (X) Assured of at least a play-off spot
    Notes:
    1. 1 2 Ranked on head-to-head points: Luxembourg 3, Northern Ireland 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 (X)8701284+2421 Final tournament 2–0 5–1 4–0 6–1 3–0
    2Flag of Greece.svg  Greece (Y)9522147+717 Play-offs 2–1 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–0
    3Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 85121512+316 0–2 15 Oct '24 2–1 2–0 11 Oct '24
    4Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands (E)8215921127 11 Oct '24 0–4 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 10 September 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated; (X) Assured of at least a play-off spot; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may advance via the play-offs

    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 7511126+616 Final tournament 0–4 1–0 3–0 2–0
    2Flag of France.svg  France 6411184+1413 Play-offs 1–1 15 Oct '24 2–0 9–0
    3Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 632194+511 11 Oct '24 2–0 2–0 2–2
    4Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina (E)7106414103 1–2 1–2 0–2 15 Oct '24
    5Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus (E)6024419152 0–3 11 Oct '24 1–1 1–2
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 2024. Source: UEFA
    (E) Eliminated

    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 7421168+814 [lower-alpha 1] Final tournament 2–2 15 Oct '24 5–0 3–0
    2Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 7421129+314 [lower-alpha 1] Play-offs 1–2 1–0 11 Oct '24 2–1
    3Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 630391019 4–2 1–2 2–1 10 Oct '24
    4Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic (Y)622281028 0–0 1–1 4–1 15 Oct '24
    5Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania (E)600651380 1–2 2–3 0–1 1–2
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 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: Denmark 4, Wales 1.

    Ranking of second-placed teams

    Because two groups have one fewer team than the others, 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 six teams enter the play-offs.

    PosGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
    1 F Flag of England.svg  England (X)7511274+2316 Final tournament
    2 I Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 7421129+314
    3 H Flag of France.svg  France 6411184+1413
    4 D Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 6402117+412 Play-offs
    5 G Flag of Greece.svg  Greece (Y)7322127+511
    6 A Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland 63211210+211
    7 B Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland (Y)6312105+510
    8 E Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 631295+410
    9 C Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia (Y)631266010
    Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 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.
    (X) Assured of at least the play-offs, can still qualify directly; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may still qualify through play-offs

    Play-offs

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

    Qualified teams

    The following teams qualified for the final tournament.

    Note: All appearance statistics include only U-21 era (since 1978).

    TeamMethod of qualificationDate of qualificationAppearanceFirst appearanceLast appearancePrevious best performance
    Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Hosts25 January 20233rd 2000 2017 Fourth place (2000)
    Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Group C winners9 September 202410th 1988 2023 Champions (2006, 2007)
    Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Group B winners10 September 202417th 1982 2023 Champions (1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, 2019)

    Top goalscorers

    There have been 491 goals scored in 163 matches, for an average of 3.01 goals per match (as of 7 June 2024).

    7 goals

    6 goals

    5 goals

    4 goals

    3 goals

    2 goals

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

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    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.