Under-19 Futsal EURO Main Round: The Road to Moldova

Europe’s Best Young Futsal Talents Battle for Glory

The UEFA European Under-19 Futsal Championship main round qualifiers are set to kick off from 25 to 30 March, marking the next stage in the journey to the finals in Moldova. Defending champions Portugal and two-time winners Spain headline the competition, as teams battle for one of seven remaining spots at the Chișinău Arena from 28 September to 5 October.

The Journey So Far

The road to the main round has already seen intense competition, with Azerbaijan, Estonia, and Germany securing the final slots in January’s preliminary round. These three nations will now join 25 other teams in pursuit of a place in the finals, adding further depth to an already competitive field.

Main Round Group Breakdown

The main round consists of seven groups, each featuring four teams. The winner of each group will earn a coveted place in the final tournament, joining host nation Moldova.

• Group 1 (27–30 March): Italy, Romania, Slovakia (hosts), Germany
• Group 2 (26–29 March): Spain, Finland, Hungary (hosts), England
• Group 3 (27–30 March): Portugal (hosts), France, Belarus, Kazakhstan
• Group 4 (26–29 March): Slovenia, Belgium, Latvia (hosts), Andorra
• Group 5 (26–29 March): Ukraine, Netherlands, Serbia (hosts), Montenegro
• Group 6 (25–28 March): Poland, Czechia (hosts), Greece, Estonia
• Group 7 (26–29 March): Croatia (hosts), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Türkiye, Azerbaijan

Portugal enters the tournament as reigning champions, having claimed the 2023 title with a dominant 6-2 victory over Spain in the final. Their recent track record is impressive, finishing as runners-up in 2022 and reaching the semi-finals in 2019.

Spain, the tournament’s most successful team, won the first two editions in 2019 and 2022 before falling short against Portugal last year. Despite their 2023 disappointment, they remain a formidable force in youth futsal.

Croatia, a team with consistent performances, were runners-up in 2019 and have qualified for every edition since. Ukraine has also made a strong impact, reaching the semi-finals in both 2022 and 2023, having previously qualified in 2019.

Slovenia made an impressive debut in 2023, reaching the semi-finals in their first-ever finals appearance. Other nations aiming to return to the finals include Finland (2023), France (2022, 2023), Italy (2022, 2023), Latvia (2019 hosts), Netherlands (2019), Poland (2019, 2022), and Romania (2022).

Estonia and Germany, both making their main round debuts, have already made history. Estonia became the first team from their nation to progress through any round of UEFA futsal competition, at either senior or youth level.

The UEFA Under-19 Futsal Championship has consistently delivered thrilling encounters. Some of the notable past results include:

• Romania’s 4-0 triumph over Slovakia to qualify in 2022.
• Spain’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Hungary in the 2023 main round, where they secured qualification on goal difference.
• Portugal’s emphatic performances, including a 5-1 win over France in the 2023 finals and a 9-0 demolition of Belarus in the main round.
• Belgium’s solid defensive displays, overcoming Latvia 2-0 in the 2023 main round and Andorra 3-2 the previous year.
• Ukraine’s crucial 4-2 victory over Serbia in the 2023 main round, securing their place in the finals.
• Montenegro’s surprising 3-0 win over the Netherlands in the 2022 main round.

With a mix of established powerhouses and emerging talents, the 2024 Under-19 Futsal EURO main round promises to be a highly competitive and thrilling stage of the competition. The teams that emerge victorious from this round will have the opportunity to battle for European supremacy in Moldova later this year.

The stakes are high, and with past tournaments producing unforgettable moments, fans can expect another exciting chapter in youth futsal history. The journey to Chișinău begins now—who will rise to the occasion?

Organ Donation

Futsal Focus is a supporter of Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his family’s campaign to raise awareness of Organ Donation. We encourage our readers to learn more about Organ Donation: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/

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