2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification

2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification

Tournament details
Dates	5 June 2025 – 6 October 2026
Teams	51 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played	42
Goals scored	127 (3.02 per match)
Attendance	90,972 (2,166 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Adrian Svanbäck (4 goals)
← 2025 2029 → All statistics correct as of 9 September 2025.

The 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying competition is a men's under-21 football competition to determine the 14 teams that would be joining the automatically qualified co-hosts Albania and Serbia in the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament.

51 UEFA member national teams will enter the qualifying competition. Players born on or after 1 January 2004 are eligible to participate.

Two teams are not taking part in this tournament: Russia was suspended on 28 February 2022 by FIFA and UEFA from all competitions due to its invasion of Ukraine, ^{[1] [2]} while the Liechtenstein team has been temporarily dissolved based on a decision announced on 5 October 2022. ^[3]

Format

The qualifying competition consisted of the following two rounds:

• Qualifying group stage: The 51 teams were drawn into nine groups: six groups of six teams and three groups of five teams. Each group will be played in home-and-away round-robin format. The nine group winners and the best runner-up (not counting results against the sixth-placed team) will qualify directly for the final tournament, while the remaining eight runners-up advanced to the play-offs.
• Play-offs: The eight teams will be drawn into four ties to play home-and-away two-legged matches to determine the last four qualified teams.

Tiebreakers

In the qualifying group stage, teams were 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 Article 14.01): ^[4]

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 total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
11. Position in the UEFA men's Under-21 national team coefficient rankings used for the qualifying group stage draw.

To determine the best 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): ^[4]

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

Stage	Draw date	FIFA International Dates
Qualifying group stage	6 February 2025 [5]	Matchday 1 (5–10 June 2025)
		Matchday 2 (4–5 September 2025)
		Matchday 3 (8–9 September 2025)
		Matchday 4 (9–10 October 2025)
		Matchday 5 (13–14 October 2025)
		Matchday 6 (13–15 November 2025)
		Matchday 7 (17–18 November 2025)
		Matchday 8 (26–27 March 2026)
		Matchday 9 (30–31 March 2026)
		Matchday 10 (24–26 September 2026)
		Matchday 11 (28 September – 1 October 2026)
		Matchday 12 (5–6 October 2026)
Play-offs	TBA	1st and 2nd legs (9–17 November 2026)

Qualifying group stage

Draw

Final tournament co-hosts

Team
Albania
Serbia

Pot A Team   Spain   England   Portugal   Netherlands   Germany   France   Ukraine   Italy   Denmark	Pot B Team   Romania    Switzerland   Croatia   Czech Republic   Poland   Norway   Belgium   Georgia   Republic of Ireland	Pot C Team   Slovenia   Finland   Sweden   Austria   Slovakia   Greece   Iceland   Hungary   Bulgaria
Pot D Team   Scotland   Wales   Israel   North Macedonia   Turkey   Kosovo   Northern Ireland   Faroe Islands   Moldova	Pot E Team   Belarus   Montenegro   Bosnia and Herzegovina   Cyprus   Latvia   Lithuania   Kazakhstan   Azerbaijan   Luxembourg	Pot F Team   Estonia   Malta   Armenia   Andorra   Gibraltar   San Marino

Each group contained one team from each of Pots A–F (Pots A–E for a five-team group). Based on the previous decisions taken by the UEFA Executive Committee and the UEFA Emergency Panel, four pairs of teams were not drawn in the same group.

• Armenia and Azerbaijan
• Gibraltar and Spain
• Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo
• Belarus and Ukraine

Groups

Group A

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Finland	2	2	0	0	12	0	+12	6	Final tournament		—	25 Sep '26	14 Nov	18 Nov	31 Mar '26	7–0
2	Spain	2	2	0	0	6	1	+5	6	Play-offs		14 Oct	—	6 Oct '26	31 Mar '26	3–0	14 Nov
3	Romania	2	1	1	0	2	0	+2	4			30 Sep '26	18 Nov	—	0–0	14 Oct	31 Mar '26
4	Kosovo	2	0	1	1	1	3	−2	1			6 Oct '26	1–3	27 Mar '26	—	30 Sep '26	14 Oct
5	Cyprus	2	0	0	2	0	8	−8	0			0–5	27 Mar '26	25 Sep '26	14 Nov	—	6 Oct '26
6	San Marino	2	0	0	2	0	9	−9	0			26 Mar '26	30 Sep '26	0–2	25 Sep '26	18 Nov	—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2025. Source: UEFA

Group B

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Portugal	2	2	0	0	7	0	+7	6	Final tournament		—	6 Oct '26	10 Oct	5–0	30 Sep '26	31 Mar '26
2	Czech Republic	2	2	0	0	4	1	+3	6	Play-offs		18 Nov	—	30 Sep '26	10 Oct	31 Mar '26	2–0
3	Bulgaria	2	1	1	0	4	1	+3	4			25 Sep '26	14 Oct	—	31 Mar '26	3–0	6 Oct '26
4	Azerbaijan	2	0	1	1	1	6	−5	1			27 Mar '26	25 Sep '26	1–1	—	6 Oct '26	14 Oct
5	Gibraltar	2	0	0	2	1	5	−4	0			30 Sep '26	1–2	26 Mar '26	18 Nov	—	25 Sep '26
6	Scotland	2	0	0	2	0	4	−4	0			0–2	27 Mar '26	18 Nov	30 Sep '26	9 Oct	—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2025. Source: UEFA

Group C

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group C

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Faroe Islands	3	3	0	0	5	2	+3	9	Final tournament		—	14 Oct	6 Oct '26	2–1	10 Oct	30 Sep '26
2	Switzerland	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	3	Play-offs		27 Mar '26	—	10 Oct	31 Mar '26	14 Nov	25 Sep '26
3	Iceland	2	0	1	1	2	3	−1	1			1–2	29 Sep '26	—	26 Mar '26	25 Sep '26	14 Oct
4	Estonia	3	0	1	2	2	5	−3	1			25 Sep '26	0–2	1–1	—	29 Sep '26	10 Oct
5	France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			17 Nov	6 Oct '26	30 Mar '26	13 Oct	—	3 Oct '26
6	Luxembourg	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	0			0–1	25 Sep '26	13 Nov	6 Oct '26	26 Mar '26	—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2025. Source: UEFA

Group D

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Slovakia	2	2	0	0	6	2	+4	6	Final tournament		—	25 Sep '26	18 Nov	14 Oct	13 Nov	3–0
2	Republic of Ireland	2	2	0	0	3	1	+2	6	Play-offs		10 Oct	—	6 Oct '26	26 Mar '26	29 Sep '26	1–0
3	England	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	3			2 Oct '26	14 Nov	—	31 Mar '26	25 Sep '26	13 Oct
4	Moldova	3	1	0	2	6	5	+1	3			2–3	1–2	10 Oct	—	6 Oct '26	3–0
5	Kazakhstan	2	1	0	1	1	2	−1	3			27 Mar '26	31 Mar '26	0–2	17 Nov	—	1–0
6	Andorra	4	0	0	4	0	8	−8	0			6 Oct '26	18 Nov	27 Mar '26	2 Oct '26	9 Oct	—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2025. Source: UEFA

Group E

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group E

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Poland	2	2	0	0	7	0	+7	6	Final tournament		—	14 Nov	10 Oct	30 Sep '26	3–0	27 Mar '26
2	Italy	2	2	0	0	3	1	+2	6	Play-offs		5 Oct '26	—	2–1	10 Oct	26 Mar '26	14 Oct
3	Montenegro	2	1	0	1	3	2	+1	3			31 Mar '26	18 Nov	—	2–0	14 Nov	5 Oct '26
4	Sweden	2	1	0	1	3	2	+1	3			14 Oct	31 Mar '26	27 Mar '26	—	5 Oct '26	3–0
5	North Macedonia	2	0	0	2	0	4	−4	0			18 Nov	0–1	30 Sep '26	13 Nov	—	10 Oct
6	Armenia	2	0	0	2	0	7	−7	0			0–4	30 Sep '26	14 Nov	18 Nov	31 Mar '26	—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2025. Source: UEFA

Group F

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group F

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Greece	1	1	0	0	5	0	+5	3	Final tournament		—	31 Mar '26	14 Nov	18 Nov	1 Oct '26	27 Mar '26
2	Germany	1	1	0	0	5	0	+5	3	Play-offs		10 Oct	—	6 Oct '26	27 Mar '26	5–0	14 Nov
3	Georgia	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1			26 Sep '26	18 Nov	—	1–1	27 Mar '26	31 Mar '26
4	Northern Ireland	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1			6 Oct '26	14 Oct	1 Oct '26	—	13 Nov	9 Oct
5	Latvia	1	0	0	1	0	5	−5	0			14 Oct	26 Sep '26	10 Oct	31 Mar '26	—	6 Oct '26
6	Malta	1	0	0	1	0	5	−5	0			0–5	30 Sep '26	14 Oct	26 Sep '26	18 Nov	—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2025. Source: UEFA

Group G

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group G

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Norway	1	1	0	0	5	0	+5	3	Final tournament		—	14 Nov	27 Mar '26	29 Sep '26	5–0
2	Israel	2	0	2	0	2	2	0	2	Play-offs		6 Oct '26	—	18 Nov	31 Mar '26	10 Oct
3	Netherlands	1	0	1	0	2	2	0	1			25 Sep '26	2–2	—	6 Oct '26	14 Nov
4	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1			18 Nov	0–0	10 Oct	—	27 Mar '26
5	Slovenia	1	0	0	1	0	5	−5	0			31 Mar '26	29 Sep '26	2 Oct '26	14 Oct	—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2025. Source: UEFA

Group H

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group H

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Ukraine	1	1	0	0	4	0	+4	3	Final tournament		—	2 Oct '26	10 Oct	26 Sep '26	27 Mar '26
2	Croatia	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1	Play-offs		14 Oct	—	26 Sep '26	31 Mar '26	13 Nov
3	Hungary	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1			31 Mar '26	18 Nov	—	14 Oct	1 Oct '26
4	Turkey	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1			14 Nov	1–1	6 Oct '26	—	10 Oct
5	Lithuania	2	0	1	1	1	5	−4	1			0–4	6 Oct '26	1–1	18 Nov	—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 September 2025. Source: UEFA

Group I

Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group I

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Denmark	1	1	0	0	6	2	+4	3	Final tournament		—	10 Oct	6 Oct '26	28 Sep '26	31 Mar '26
2	Austria	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1	3	Play-offs		2 Oct '26	—	14 Nov	31 Mar '26	14 Oct
3	Belgium	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1			14 Oct	27 Mar '26	—	24 Sep '26	28 Sep '26
4	Belarus	2	0	1	1	3	4	−1	1			18 Nov	2–3	1–1	—	14 Nov
5	Wales	1	0	0	1	2	6	−4	0			2–6	6 Oct '26	10 Oct	27 Mar '26	—

Updated to match(es) played on 8 September 2025. Source: UEFA

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-ranked team will qualify directly for the final tournament, while the other teams enter the play-offs.

Play-offs

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
TBD		TBD
TBD		TBD
TBD		TBD
TBD		TBD

Qualified teams

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

Team	Method of qualification	Date of qualification	Appearance	Last appearance	Previous best performance
Serbia	Co-hosts	4 February 2025	6th (12th incl.Yugoslavia )	2019	Final (2007)
Albania			2nd	1984	Quarterfinals (1984)

Top goalscorers

There have been 127 goals scored in 42 matches, for an average of 3.02 goals per match (as of 9 September 2025).

4 goals

• Adrian Svanbäck

3 goals

• Nicolò Tresoldi
• Vladislav Costin
• Oskar Pietuszewski

2 goals

• David Heindl
• Nikola Iliev
• Georgi Lazarov
• Áki Samuelsen
• Otto Ruoppi
• Georgios Koutsias
• Stavros Pnevmonidis
• Mihai Lupan
• Ernest Poku
• Rodrigo Mora
• Mason Melia

References

1. "FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions". FIFA . 28 February 2022.
2. "FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions". UEFA. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
3. "Nächste U21 EM-Qualifikation ohne Liechtenstein". www.lfv.li (in German). 2022-10-05.
4. "Regulations of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship". UEFA. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
5. "2025-27 Under-21 qualifying draw". UEFA . 6 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-09.

External links

• Official website