2025-27 Under-21 EURO qualifying latest

The 2025-27 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying group stage runs until 6 October 2026, followed by play-offs the following month ahead of the final tournament in summer 2027 in Albania and Serbia.

The nine group winners and the runner-up with the best record (not counting results against sixth-placed teams) qualify directly for the final tournament to join co-hosts Albania and Serbia. The eight other runners-up contest play-offs to determine the four remaining finalists.

U21 EURO qualifying groups

Group A: Spain, Finland, Kosovo, Romania, Cyprus, San Marino

Spain beat San Marino 7-0 and then won 2-0 in Romania to end November's fixtures top with five wins out of five. Finland (who in October led Spain in the 90th minute only to lose 2-1) are five points adrift after beating Romania 2-0 but then being held 0-0 by Kosovo, themselves two further points behind and one ahead of Romania.

Group B: Portugal, Czechia, Scotland, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Gibraltar

Portugal are top and yet to concede a goal but their perfect start was ended with a 0-0 draw in Czechia, who remain within three points of the lead. Scotland are level with Czechia but have played a game more after winning 2-0 against Gibraltar and 1-0 versus Bulgaria, who are now three points off the top three but two above Azerbaijan. Scotland face both Czechia and Portugal in March.

Group C: France, Faroe Islands, Switzerland, Iceland, Estonia, Luxembourg

France went top with a 1-0 win against previous leaders the Faroe Islands, themselves now a point behind having played two games more. Switzerland had drawn 1-1 with France but missed the chance to go top as they lost 2-1 in Luxembourg. Switzerland are one point adrift of next opponents the Faroe Islands with a game in hand, as are Iceland, who visit France among the March fixtures. Luxembourg are four points off the top quartet following that defeat of Switzerland.

Group D: England (holders), Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Andorra, Kazakhstan, Moldova

England's bid for a third straight title is going to plan with five perfect wins and no goals conceded, in November beating closest group rivals Republic of Ireland 2-0 at home and Slovakia 4-0 away. Slovakia (who have played a game more) are two points behind but six in front of Ireland after their 4-0 loss in Andorra, recording their record margin of victory. That is Andorra's second win in the group (something they have never achieved before), October's 1-0 defeat of Kazakhstan having been their first U21 EURO victory since 2019, and they are now up to fourth.

Group E: Poland, Italy, Montenegro, Sweden, North Macedonia, Armenia

Poland lead the way with six perfect wins, the 1-0 victory in North Macedonia following the dramatic comeback with two goals in the last five minutes for a 2-1 triumph against Italy, who had themselves not previously dropped a point. Italy then won 4-1 in Montenegro to stay within three points of Poland. Montenegro are six points off second place along with Sweden, who prevailed in North Macedonia 4-1 and Armenia 1-0 in November.

Group F: Greece, Germany, Northern Ireland, Georgia, Latvia, Malta

Greece have five wins out of five after beating Georgia 3-0 and Northern Ireland 4-0 in November. Germany, defeated at home by Greece in October, are still within three points after a 6-0 win against Malta and 2-0 away victory in Georgia. Northern Ireland are five points behind Germany, who host the third-place team in March four days before the 2025 runners-up have their crucial rematch in Greece.

Greece celebrate beating GermanyGetty Images

Group G: Norway, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Netherlands, Slovenia

Norway have three wins out of three without conceding a goal, in November defeating Israel 3-0 and prevailing 1-0 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Israel followed up their loss in Norway by beating the Netherlands 3-1 to go second, three points off the lead but having played two games more. The Netherlands, who had beaten Slovenia 2-0, are a point behind Israel with a game in hand, as are Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group H: Türkiye, Croatia, Ukraine, Hungary, Lithuania

Türkiye won 1-0 against Ukraine and 2-1 in Lithuania in November and lead the way a point ahead of Croatia, who have a game in hand and defeated Lithuania 4-0 at home and Hungary 2-0 away. Ukraine are six points off second place while Croatia host Türkiye on 31 March.

Group I: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Belarus, Wales

Just four points separate the five teams at the halfway stage, with Austria, Belgium and Denmark level at the top. In November's games, Austria beat Belgium 1-0 and Denmark prevailed 1-0 in Belarus, who themselves had beaten Wales 3-0. Belarus are three points behind the leading trio and one in front of Wales.

Belgium celebrate scoring in WalesGetty Images

Team guide

• England retained the title in 2025 taking them to four victories, one short of the record jointly held by Italy and Spain.
• Germany were runners-up in 2025 with France and the Netherlands beaten in the semi-finals and Denmark, Italy, Portugal and Spain reaching the last eight. Finland, Czechia, Georgia, Poland, Romania, hosts Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine also took part in the final tournament.
• Teams involved in qualifying able to join co-hosts Albania in making a first final tournament appearance since the end of the old two-legged format in 1994 are Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Ireland, San Marino and Wales.

U21 EURO qualifying dates

Qualifying group stage

▪ 5–10 June 2025
▪ 4–9 September 2025
▪ 9–14 October 2025
▪ 13–18 November 2025
▪ 26–31 March 2026
▪ 24 September–6 October 2026

Play-offs

▪ 9–17 November 2026