Euro U21
Europe
The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, the 25th edition of the competition, has started on 11th June, 2025 and is set to continue for 17 days with the final happening on 28th June, 2025. Slovakia is hosting the tournament for the second time in its history. The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship will feature 16 Nations with their respective U21 squads. These teams were finalized after the qualification round, which included 56 nations of Europe.
The first phase will have a group stage in which 16 countries are divided into four groups: A, B, C & D from each group top two countries will play the quarterfinals, and the remaining two will be eliminated from the tournament. The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship is also known for its role in qualifying teams for the Summer Olympics. The championship has a rich history, with Spain and Italy each holding five titles.
The first match of the 25th edition will be between 5-time champion Spain U21 and the 2nd time Host Slovakia, and the last group match is set to be played on 19th June 2025 between England U21 and Germany U21. Now let’s take a look at the U21 Euro Championship table section:
16 teams with their U21 squads have been divided into 4 groups. Each team will play only 1 match against the other 3 teams of the group. After the completion of the group stage top two teams will be qualified for the knockout rounds. The knockout round of the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship will begin on 21st June, 2025. Here is the detailed distribution of the U21 Euro Championship table for the 16 teams and their respective groups:
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovakia | England | Portugal | Netherlands |
| Spain | Germany | France | Ukraine |
| Italy | Czech Republic | Poland | Denmark |
| Romania | Slovenia | Georgia | Finland |
The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, established in the year 1978, is a platform where players from different nations participate with their respective U21 Squads. The tournament takes place once every two years and is considered a great platform for youngsters as well as for clubs seeking generational talent. Italy and Spain as the most successful nations, each clinching five titles. Italy won in 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, and 2004, while Spain has also won the 5 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, and 2019. England are the current champions, having secured their third title in 2023, defeating Spain 1-0 in the final.
The tournament, which is also the way for teams to qualify for the summer Olympics, has seen 15 different winners so far in the history of the championship. Recent champions include Germany (2021), Spain (2019), and Germany (2017). Below is the detailed list of UEFA U21 Euro winners from 1978 to 2023.
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Scoreline (Aggregate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Yugoslavia | East Germany | 5-4 |
| 1980 | Soviet Union | East Germany | 1-0 |
| 1982 | England | West Germany | 5-4 |
| 1984 | England | Spain | 3-0 |
| 1986 | Spain | Italy | 3-3, 3-0 (pen.) |
| 1988 | France | Greece | 3-0 |
| 1990 | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | 7-3 |
| 1992 | Italy | Sweden | 2-1 |
| 1994 | Italy | Portugal | 1-0 (a.e.t.) |
| 1996 | Italy | Spain | 1-1, 4-2 (pen.) |
| 1998 | Spain | Greece | 1-0 |
| 2000 | Italy | Czech Republic | 2-1 |
| 2002 | Czech Republic | France | 0-0, 3-1 (pen.) |
| 2004 | Italy | Serbia and Montenegro | 3-0 |
| 2006 | Netherlands | Ukraine | 3-0 |
| 2007 | Netherlands | Serbia | 4-1 |
| 2009 | Germany | England | 4-0 |
| 2011 | Spain | Switzerland | 2-0 |
| 2013 | Spain | Italy | 4-2 |
| 2015 | Sweden | Portugal | 0-0, 4-3 (pen.) |
| 2017 | Germany | Spain | 1-0 |
| 2019 | Spain | Germany | 2-1 |
| 2021 | Germany | Portugal | 1-0 |
| 2023 | England | Spain | 1-0 |
Disclaimer: From 1978 to 1992 U21 Euro Championship finals were a two-legged format before they changed it to the current format.
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Italy and Spain have both won 5 championship trophies each to their name, with Italy winning the trophy in the years (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, and 2004) while the Spanish national side won the trophy in the following years (1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, and 2019).
The years in which either Italy or Spain won are the years in which their national side also dominated the football world and clinched some Important trophies like the FIFA World Cup & UEFA Euro. It shows that the UEFA European Under-21 Championship set the tone for the big tournaments in the near future. The 2025 edition, hosted by Slovakia, began on June 11 and runs until June 28, featuring 16 teams across Europe.
The UEFA European Under-21 Championship is a leading youth football event held every two years. It features the best players under 21 years old across Europe. Italy and Spain remain the most successful nations, each claiming five titles. Italy dominated the tournament by winning in 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, and 2004, and Spain reigned in 1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, and 2019.
Other teams that have won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship are as follows: England and Germany follow with three titles each, England in 1982, 1984, and 2023, and Germany in 2009, 2017, and 2021. The Netherlands and the Soviet Union each won two titles; the Netherlands won in 2006 and 2007, and the Soviet Union in 1980 and 1990. Single-title winners include Yugoslavia (1978), France (1988), the Czech Republic (2002), and Sweden (2015). The tournament has aided in qualifying for the summer Olympics since 1992. The upcoming edition in 2025 will be hosted in Slovakia from June 11 to 28. The detailed list below shows the number of times a nation won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship:
| Country | Titles | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | 5 | 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004 |
| Spain | 5 | 1986, 1988, 2011, 2013, 2019 |
| England | 3 | 1982, 1984, 2023 |
| Germany | 3 | 2009, 2017, 2021 |
| Netherlands | 2 | 2006, 2007 |
| Soviet Union | 2 | 1980, 1990 |
| Yugoslavia | 1 | 1978 |
| France | 1 | 1988 |
| Czech Republic | 1 | 2002 |
| Sweden | 1 | 2015 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams qualify from each group?
The nine group winners and the three best runners-up qualify directly for the final tournament, while the remaining six runners-up advance to the play-offs round.
What happens if teams are tied on points and all other stats?
Their final rankings are determined through penalty kicks.
Do group standings affect seeding in the knockout rounds?
Yes, group standings affect the seeding in the knockout rounds as their place and opposition will be based on it.
Can a third-placed team qualify for the knockout stage?
No, a third-placed team cannot qualify for the knockout stage.
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