The first stage on the road to Wales and the 2013 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship was made on 15 November 2011 with the first qualifying round draw in Nyon.

First qualifying round draw
Group 1: Austria*, Croatia, Israel, Azerbaijan

Group 2: Denmark, Republic of Ireland*, Greece, Kazakhstan

Group 3: Sweden, Portugal, Estonia, Lithuania*

Group 4: Czech Republic, Finland*, Faroe Islands, Moldova

Group 5: Russia, Wales, Cyprus, Belarus*

Group 6: Netherlands, Serbia*, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malta

Group 7: Italy, Poland, Slovenia*, Albania

Group 8: Scotland, Romania, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Georgia

Group 9: France, Iceland, Slovakia, Bulgaria*

Group 10: Belgium, Hungary*, Turkey, Montenegro

Group 11: Switzerland, Ukraine, Northern Ireland, Latvia*

*Hosts

The top two in each of the eleven groups will progress to April's second qualifying round along with the third-placed team with the best record against the top two in their section. Three countries await them there: with the highest coefficients, Germany, holders France and England were all given a bye through the initial stage.

Seven teams advance from the second qualifying round to join hosts Wales at the final tournament between 19 and 31 August 2013.