The UEFA European Under-21 Championship, the UEFA Under-21 Championship or simply the Euro Under-21, is a biennial football competition contested by the European men's under-21 national teams of the UEFA member associations. Since 1992, the competition also serves as the UEFA qualification tournament for the Summer Olympics.

Italy and Spain are the most successful teams in this competition, having won five titles each. England are the current champions, having beaten Spain 1–0 in the 2023 final.

History

Trophy of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship

The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under-23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970. From the teams that applied for participation, two teams were selected by lot. These teams in the match between themselves revealed the winner of the main trophy. The winner was obliged to play with those teams that called him to the next meeting. These matches were initially held no more than once every three months, starting from the fourth tournament - in spring and autumn. In the event that several teams challenged the winner, the order of opponents was determined by lot. The cup holder was allowed to play games at home. Only two teams held that trophy: Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. In 1970, the tournament was replaced by the European Youth Championship.

A true Under-23 championship was then formed, starting in 1973. The tournament ran parallel to already existing main UEFA youth tournament that existed after the World War II (today the under-19 competitions). Around 1980, the UEFA has been reforming its junior squad competitions and reorganized them based on age limit only.

The age limit was reduced to 21 for the 1978 championship and it has remained so since. To be eligible for the campaign ending in 2025, players must be born in 2002 or later. Many may actually be 23 years old by the time of the final tournament; however, when the qualification process began (2023), all players would have been 21 or under.

Under-21 matches were typically played on the day before senior internationals and where possible, the same qualifying groups and fixtures were played out. This has changed since the 2006 edition.

The tournament's record attendance was set during the knockout stage of the 2023 edition, when 44,338 spectators gathered for the match between hosts Georgia and Israel.

The European U21 Championship is a prestigious soccer tournament that showcases the best young talent in European football. Held every two years, the tournament features national teams from across Europe competing for the title of U21 European champions.

The tournament provides a platform for young players to showcase their skills and potential on an international stage, with many going on to have successful careers at the senior level. The competition is fiercely contested, with teams battling it out in a series of group stage matches, followed by knockout rounds leading up to the final.

The European U21 Championship is not only a chance for players to gain valuable experience and exposure, but also for fans to witness the future stars of the game in action. The tournament is known for its fast-paced and exciting matches, with plenty of goals and drama to keep spectators on the edge of their seats.

Overall, the European U21 Championship is a must-watch event for soccer fans looking to catch a glimpse of the next generation of talent in European football.