Ireland u19s

Key changes: Summary

From 2024/25, U17 EURO qualifying will consist of two stages named round 1 and round 2. All teams (including the final tournament hosts) compete in both stages, with round 2 now split into League A and League B.

The U17 EURO final tournament will now involve eight teams, including the hosts.

From 2026/27, U19 EURO qualifying will consist of three rounds, initially split into League A and League B as set by 2024/25 U17 EURO round 2. Round 1 will be played in spring of the year before the eventual final tournament, with round 2 in autumn and round 3 the spring prior to the summer finals.

Rounds 1 and 2 will be played under the two-league format, and involve the final tournament hosts. Round 3 will resemble the current elite round with 28 teams.

The U19 EURO final tournament will continue to involve eight teams, including the hosts.
The 2024/25 and 2025/26 editions of U19 EURO wil be played under the existing format of qualifying round, elite round and final tournament

Yeah it's a mistake from UEFA reducing the number of teams. Should have extended the U19s to also include 16 teams. Even though it switched to 16 teams we still qualified as group winners.

In 2017 we were the fifth highest placed team, 2018 the second highest placed team, 2019 we hosted the tournament so were the highest placed team, and in 2023 we were the fourth highest placed team.

So even with the drop down to 8 teams we may still make some tournaments. Though more and more countries are investing in their underage with the help of UEFA in establishing national academies. Israel being one which has payed off massively in the last 12 months.

Edited by J89 - Yesterday at 12:03am