The UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round begins on Wednesday with eight places up for grabs in May's finals in Liechtenstein and all the games can be followed live in the UEFA.com MatchCentre.

Seven four-team, one-venue mini-tournaments will be played from this week until 1 April, and the withdrawal of the host team from the finals means an extra qualifying place has become available. Along with the seven group winners, the runners-up with the best record against the teams first and third in their section will also compete in Liechtenstein from 18 to 30 May.

Spain, denied in their bid for a third straight title in Germany last season, are involved in the first pool to start as they face Poland, Belgium and hosts Northern Ireland in Group 4. Two sections run from Friday until next Wednesday, including Group 2 where 2003 winners Portugal will attempt to reach the final tournament for the first time in six years.

Late next week the four remaining groups begin, including holders Germany welcoming Serbia, Hungary and Switzerland, who won the FIFA U-17 World Cup last year. The eight eventual finalists will go into the final tournament draw at 19.30CET on 7 April in Vaduz's Kunstmuseum.