UEFA Under-19 European Championship 2024

The countdown to Northern Ireland’s hosting of the UEFA Under-19 European Championship 2024 has begun.

The eight-team tournament is set to get under way on 15 July.

Peter Gilpin, director of the 2024 tournament, said: “We are confident we can deliver a successful U19 Euros.

“The tournament will provide football fans in Northern Ireland and beyond with the opportunity to see some of the best young footballers from across Europe in action.

“We are also confident the tournament will provide long-lasting benefits for football right across Northern Ireland.”

The venues for group matches will be Seaview Stadium and Inver Park with the final scheduled to be staged at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast on Sunday 28 July.

The tournament will provide football fans in Northern Ireland and beyond with the opportunity to see some of the best young footballers from across Europe in action

As hosts, Northern Ireland, managed by former international star Gareth McAuley, qualified automatically for the finals, which will also act as qualifiers for the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in 2025.

Ahead of next summer’s tournament the U19 Championship elite round line-up is set following the completion of the qualifying round.

The top two teams in each group will join top seeds Portugal in the elite round along with Greece, the third-placed team with the best record against the top two in their section.

Teams through to the elite round (Spring 2024)

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece*, Israel, Italy (holders), Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal (bye), Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine

*Best third-placed team 

Northern Ireland had been set to stage the 2020 edition of the tournament but missed out due to the Covid-19 pandemic.