UEFA U19 European Championship

The UEFA European Under-19 Championship, commonly known as the UEFA U19 Championship or Euro Under-19, is an annual football tournament for UEFA member associations' under-19 men’s national teams. It was founded in 1948 as the FIFA International Youth Tournament but has been administered by UEFA after European football’s governing body took control of the competition in 1956.

Held in June or July, the tournament features eight teams divided into two groups of four. All participants, including the hosts, go through a three-round qualifying tournament, with the hosts guaranteed a spot in the finals regardless of the outcome.

The group stage follows a single round-robin format, allowing each team to face every other side in their group once. The top two countries from each group progress to a knockout stage, which includes single-leg semifinals and a final. In even-numbered years, the UEFA U19 Championship also serves as a qualifier for the following year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup. UEFA is allocated five slots, with the four semifinalists earning tickets, while the two third-placed teams from the group stage face off in a playoff for the fifth slot.

England was the first champion, defeating the Netherlands 3-2 in the 1948 final under FIFA's administration. No champion was crowned in the first two editions managed by UEFA, with Austria winning in 1957. From 1981 to 2001, the tournament was known as the UEFA European Under-18 Championship, with West Germany hosting and winning the inaugural edition. The competition was rebranded to its current name in 2002, with Spain clinching victory over Germany in that final, winning 1-0.

Spain, England, and France have been the most successful teams in this tournament, while Germany, Russia, Italy, and Portugal have also achieved notable successes.