October 18 – The U21 European Championship play-offs have been drawn at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, with six teams battling for the last three slots at next summer’s finals in Slovakia.
Finland will face Norway, Belgium take on Czechia, and Georgia meet Croatia in a series of two-legged ties to be contested between November 15 and 19. The finals tournament will be held in Slovakia from June 11-28, 2025.
The nine group winners and the three best runners-up are already through to the finals alongside hosts Slovakia. The other six runners-up meet for the remaining finals berths.
The winners of the play-offs will join Denmark, England (holders), France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia (hosts), Slovenia, Spain and Ukraine.
Next year will mark the second time Slovakia has hosted the competition – first hosting in 2000 where they placed fourth, losing to Spain in the third-place playoff.
Twelve teams have already qualified for 2025, including defending champions England, who won their third title in 2023 under now-interim England boss Lee Carsley. Powerhouses Spain and Italy—both five-time winners—are aiming to become the competition’s most successful team, with Spain last lifting the trophy in 2019 and coming desperately close in 2023, losing 1-0 thanks to a strike from Liverpool’s Curtis Jones.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1732195634labto1732195634ofdlr1732195634owedi1732195634sni@g1732195634niwe.1732195634yrrah1732195634