2026 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification

Last updated
2026 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification
Tournament details
DatesRound 1:
1 October – 18 November 2025
Round 2:
 Spring 2026
Teams54 (from 1 confederation)
← 2025
2027 →

The 2026 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification is a men's under-17 national football team competition that will determine the 7 teams joining the automatically qualified hosts Estonia in the 2026 UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournament.

Contents

Russia were excluded from the tournament due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Therefore, 54 teams entered this qualification competition including also hosts Albania, as it was the first time in the championship's history that the hosts started from the qualifying round however being automatically qualified. The qualification consists of a Round 1 played from September to November 2025, followed by a Round 2 played in spring 2026. Players born on or after 1 January 2009 are eligible to participate.

Format

The qualifying competition consists of the following two rounds:

Tiebreakers

In the qualifying rounds, 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 were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Articles 14.01 and 14.02): [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. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams had the same number of points, and they met in the last round of the group and were tied after applying all criteria above (not used if more than two teams had the same number of points, or if their rankings were not relevant for qualification for the next stage);
  8. Disciplinary points (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
  9. UEFA coefficient ranking for the qualifying round draw;
  10. Drawing of lots.

To determine the four best third-placed teams from the qualifying round, the results against the teams in fourth place were discarded. The following criteria were applied (Regulations Articles 15.01 and 15.03): [1]

  1. Points;
  2. Goal difference;
  3. Goals scored;
  4. Disciplinary points (total 3 matches);
  5. UEFA coefficient ranking for the qualifying round draw;
  6. Drawing of lots.

To determine the seven best runners-up from the elite round, all results were considered. The same criteria as above were applied (Regulations Articles 15.02 and 15.03). [1]

Round 1

Draw

The draw for the Round 1 was held on 5 December 2024 at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. [2]

The teams were seeded according to their results in Round 1 of the 2024/25 UEFA U-17 championship: [3]

Each group contains one team from Pot A, one team from Pot B, one team from Pot C, and 12 groups contain one team from Pot D. Based on the decisions taken by the UEFA Emergency Panel, the following pairs of teams could not be drawn in the same group: Spain and Gibraltar, Belarus and Ukraine, Kosovo and Serbia. Due to the current situation, Ukraine, Israël and Belarus cannot host tournaments on their territory and would therefore be excluded from the draw.

To determine the 2024–25 Round 2 league rankings, the following criteria was followed:

  1. higher position in the following classification:
    1. League A Round 2 group winners
    2. League A Round 2 group runners-up
    3. League A Round 2 third-placed teams
    4. Teams promoted from League B
    5. Teams relegated from League A
    6. League B Round 2 runners-up
    7. League B Round 2 third-placed teams
    8. League B Round 2 fourth-placed teams
  2. higher number of points in all mini-tournament matches;
  3. superior goal difference in all mini-tournament matches;
  4. higher number of goals scored in all mini-tournament matches;
  5. lower disciplinary points (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
  6. higher position in the 2024–25 Round 1 league rankings.
Teams entering qualifying round
Pot A
TeamPos.Pts.GDGS
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Winner Group 9 61111
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Winner Group 5 669
Flag of England.svg  England Winner Group 1 668
Flag of France.svg  France Winner Group 11 633
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Winner Group 4 624
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Winner Group 12 457
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Winner Group 7 436
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Winner Group 10 435
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Winner Group 2 435
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Winner Group 6 435
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Winner Group 3 424
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Winner Group 13 423
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Winner Group 14 412
Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland Winner Group 8 304
Pot B
TeamPos.Pts.GDGS
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Runner-up Group 7 4611
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Runner-up Group 12 436
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Runner-up Group 2 414
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Runner-up Group 13 412
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Runner-up Group 3 336
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Runner-up Group 14 323
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Runner-up Group 4 315
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Runner-up Group 11 303
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Runner-up Group 1 3-14
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Runner-up Group 9 3-64
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Runner-up Group 10 203
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Runner-up Group 6 202
Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland Runner-up Group 8 1-23
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Runner-up Group 5 1-43
Pot C
TeamPos.Pts.GDGS
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Third Group 8 425
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina Third Group 5 1-24
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro Third Group 10 1-31
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Third Group 14 1-31
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Third Group 6 1-30
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania Third Group 3 1-51
Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo Third Group 4 0-33
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Third Group 11 0-32
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Third Group 13 0-30
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Third Group 2 0-41
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Third Group 9 0-53
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Third Group 1 0-51
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia Third Group 12 0-81
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus Third Group 7 0-92
Pot D
TeamPos.Pts.GDGS
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Last Group 8 3-43
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan Last Group 4 1-55
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan Last Group 6 1-71
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Last Group 12 0-83
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia Last Group 2 0-111
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Last Group 10 0-110
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Last Group 1 0-121
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra Last Group 7 0-141
Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino Last Group 9 0-140
Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands Last Group 3 0-140
Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar Last Group 11 0-190
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein Last Group 5 0-240

Group 1

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 00000000
3Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia (H)00000000
First match(es) will be played: 1 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 2

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 00000000
3Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia (H)00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 8 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 3

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of England.svg  England 00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 00000000
3Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland (H)00000000
First match(es) will be played: 28 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 4

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain (H)00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 00000000
3Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 8 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 5

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (H)00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 00000000
3Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 8 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 6

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland 00000000
3Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo (H)00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 00000000
First match(es) will be played: Autumn 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 7

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia (H)00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 00000000
3Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 11 November 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 8

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia (H)00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 00000000
3Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 11 November 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 9

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of France.svg  France (H)00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 00000000
3Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 8 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 10

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia (H)00000000
3Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 28 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 11

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 00000000
3Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus (H)00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 28 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 12

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal (H)00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 00000000
3Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 00000000Round 2 League B
4Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 12 November 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v
v
v
v

Group 13

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 00000000
3Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg (H)00000000Round 2 League B
First match(es) will be played: 8 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v

Group 14

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 00000000Round 2 League A
2Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 00000000
3Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia (H)00000000Round 2 League B
First match(es) will be played: 24 October 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
v
v
v

Notes

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    References

    1. 1 2 3 "UEFA Documents". documents.uefa.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
    2. ↑ "2025/26 Under-17 EURO round 1 draw made". UEFA.
    3. ↑ "2025/26 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Round 1 draw" (PDF). UEFA.
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