While looking into the qualifying groups for the UEFA 2021 Under 17 Championship(for players born on or after Thursday, 1st January 2004), and Under 19 Championship(for players born on or after Tuesday, 1st January 2002), I read that the elite round for all underage tournaments (male and female) have been abolished, and that the qualifying rounds for next years' tournaments has been postponed until February and March 2021. The dates, and locations, for all fixtures have yet to be announced.
It was decided by UEFA that, for the U17 Championships, the winners of each qualifying group will go straight to the finals in Cyprus in May 2021. Top seeds Spain and the Netherlands, who would have joined the group winners and runners up from the Qualifying Round in the Elite Round, have been granted a bye to the finals. Ireland's Under 17s have been drawn against Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Estonia in Group 3, and will host the group in March 2021.
For the Under 19 Championships, the winners of each qualifying group, along with top seed Portugal, will be drawn in a play off to determine the seven qualifiers for the finals in Romania. The Republic of Ireland's under 19 team has been drawn against Poland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Estonia, and will also host the group.
The group winners, and two best runners up, from the twelve Under 17 qualifying groups for the Women's Under 17 Championship will be drawn in a play off to determine the seven qualifiers that will join hosts the Faroe Islands at the finals in May 2021. Ireland will face group hosts Portugal, Wales, and North Macedonia in their group, which will take place in February 2021.
Qualification for the Women's Under 19 Championship final in Belarus is similar to the new format for the male tournament, only the best runner up in the twelve groups will make it to the play offs, where they will be joined by top seed Spain and the group winners. Ireland will be going to Greece to face the hosts, England, and Kosovo in February 2021.
Further Reading
UEFA postpones youth national team competitions
2021 UEFA European Under 17 Championship Qualification
2021 UEFA European Under 19 Championship Qualification
2021 UEFA Women's Under 17 Championship Qualification
2021 UEFA Women's Under 19 Championship Qualification
No comments:
Post a Comment