Image: Northern Ireland U19s in action against Germany U19s in November 2019
Northern Ireland’s Under-19 and Under-17 men’s teams will return to competitive action next autumn, it was confirmed today.
Earlier today both teams were in the draws for their respective UEFA European Championship 2022 qualifying rounds.
The U19s will face Czech Republic, Denmark and Kazakhstan (Group 13) in a four-team mini tournament in the qualifying round for the U19 Euros. The games will either be played in August/September, October or November next year. The mini tournament hosts are also still to be confirmed.
The top two in 13 qualifying groups plus the third-placed team with the best record against the leading pair in their section progress to join top seeds Portugal in the elite round, which is due to be played in spring 2022.
Slovakia, who will be hosting the UEFA U19 European Championship finals in the summer of 2022, qualify directly for the final tournament as hosts.
In the UEFA Under-17 Euros preliminary round the boys in green and white will face Italy, Scotland and Albania (Group 12).
Matches will be played between 1 July and 16 November next year. Mini tournament dates and hosts are still to be confirmed.
The top two teams in 13 qualifying groups will join top seeds Netherlands and Spain in the spring 2022 elite round along with the four third-placed teams with the best records against the top two in their section.
Israel, who will be hosting the UEFA U17 European Championship finals in May 2022, qualify directly for the final tournament.
Both the Northern Ireland U19 and U17 men’s teams are without a manager at present after Stephen Frail, who had looked after both since August 2016, moved to Scottish Premiership side Dundee United as assistant manager back in the summer.
