The countdown to Northern Ireland’s hosting of the UEFA Men’s Under-19 European Championship 2024 is on.
The eight-team U19 Euros will get under way on 15 July.
Venues for group matches have still to be confirmed, however the final is scheduled to be staged at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast on Sunday 28 July.
As hosts, Northern Ireland qualify automatically for the finals, which will also act as qualifiers for the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2025.
The qualifiers feature 13 four-team groups with the top two teams in each set to join top seeds Portugal in the spring 2024 elite round along with the third-placed team with the best record against the top two in their section.
Russia have not been included in the competition as all Russian teams are currently suspended from UEFA competitions until further notice due to the war in Ukraine.
Peter Gilpin, director of the 2024 tournament, said: “We are confident we can also deliver a successful U19 Euros.
“The tournament will provide football fans in Northern Ireland and beyond with the opportunity to see some of the best young footballers from across Europe in action.
“We are also confident the tournament will provide long-lasting benefits for football right across Northern Ireland.”
UEFA’s Executive Committee chose Northern Ireland to host the Men’s Under-19 European Championship finals in 2024 after the Irish Football Association missed out on staging the 2020 edition of the finals due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
