UEFA U-19’s qualifications draw held as road to Malta 2023 begins

The road for the 2023 UEFA U-19’s European Championships that will be held in Malta has been launched today following the qualification draw held by the European football governing body, on Wednesday.

The draw produced 13 groups that will be played either between 30 May and 14 June or 19 and 27 September 2022, beginning the road to the eight-team finals that will be held in Malta.

Led by coach Alessandro Zinnari, the Maltese youths have already started their preparations with a double-header against Estonia last month and two friendlies against Ireland this month, the first of which was played on Tuesday with Malta holding the Irish side to a 0-0 draw.

Malta, as hosts, will qualify directly for the final tournament that will be played in the summer of 2023.

The groups are as follows:

Group 1: Czech Republic, Greece, Switzerland, Andorra

Group 2: Turkey, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg

Group 3: Ukraine, Sweden, Cyprus, Kosovo

Group 4: Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Wales, Gibraltar

Group 5: Italy, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia

Group 6: Austria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania

Group 7: Spain, Belgium, Russia, Albania

Group 8: France, Scotland, Iceland, Kazakhstan

Group 9: England, Denmark, Georgia, Montenegro

Group 10: Norway, Serbia, North Macedonia, San Marino

Group 11: Croatia, Israel, Finland, Faroe Islands

Group 12: Germany, Slovakia, Belarus, Armenia

Group 13: Netherlands, Slovenia, Northern Ireland, Moldova