The Republic of Ireland were selected to host the 1994 Under-16 event, but is was the previous year's home side, Turkey, that took their first European honour.

For the second year running the holders fell in qualification, Poland finishing bottom of a group with Denmark and Northern Ireland, and 1993 runners-up Italy lost out to England. Three-time champions Spain were in Group A, but were surprised 1-0 by debutants Belarus. Austria beat Albania, also in a first finals, by a similar scoreline, and both Matchday 2 games - Spain against Austria and Belarus versus Albania - ended 1-1. Spain defeated Albania 4-0, but a 1-1 draw between Belarus and Austria took both through, a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win giving Belarus first place.

Group B featured the post-Czechoslovakian Representation of Czechs and Slovaks (RCS), and they defeated the hosts 1-0 in their opener as England also beat Portugal. The Irish held England 1-1 two days later, while the RCS fell 2-0 to Portugal. England were top, and beat the RCS 2-1 to make sure, Portugal ousting the hosts 3-0.

It was tight in Group C. Switzerland fell 4-3 to Denmark and 5-1 to both Germany and Russia, and the three victors beat each other. Russia won 2-0 against Germany, Denmark defeated Russia 3-2 and Germany overcame Denmark 4-3 - but it was not enough as Russia then Denmark won the three-way head-to-head. Less close was Group D, as both Turkey and Ukraine beat Belgium and Iceland. Belgium defeated Iceland 2-1 on Matchday 2, while the other two drew 1-1. Turkey then defeated Belgium 4-0 to finish top on goal difference.

Belarus's run ended in the last eight, 3-1 to Denmark, while Ukraine beat England 7-6 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Spot-kicks also took Turkey through 5-3 against Portugal following a scoreless game, but Austria - after being reduced to ten men - beat Russia 2-0. Ukraine's penalty luck ran out against Denmark, the game ending 2-2 and the shoot-out 5-3 to the Scandinavians. Akin Saglam scored the only goal for Turkey against Austria in the other semi-final. Ukraine beat Austria 2-0 for third place, and then Turkey made it four clean sheets in a row, winning the trophy with Serdar Meric's second-half goal against Denmark.