The preliminary round of the UEFA European Under-19 Futsal Championship, which runs till Saturday, has been the starting point for the 2023 edition.
In total, 36 teams have qualified for the third edition, with 35 teams competing to join hosts Croatia in the final tournament at the Zatica Arena in Poreč from September 3–10, 2023. Spain won the first two editions in 2019 (beating Croatia in the final) and 2022, and now the competition is back on its regular schedule after the second edition was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reigning champions, Spain, which is aiming for its third consecutive title, is one of 25 teams that have already been drawn to take direct part in March’s main round. The other ten, including rookies Germany and Malta, enter the preliminary round, competing for the final three places in the main round.
The action begins on Wednesday in Lithuania, made up of four teams in Group A. England return to futsal competition after defeating Malta.
Group A (Jan 18-21): England, Lithuania (hosts), Estonia, Malta
Group B (January 19-21): Montenegro, San Marino, Gibraltar (hosts)
Group C (January 19-21): North Macedonia (hosts), Kosovo, Germany
- The first of each group advances to the main round.
- Beginning of Germany and Malta.
- England, Kosovo and Lithuania return after qualifying for the inaugural 2019 edition.
Main Round Group (21-26 March)
group 1: Poland, Slovenia, Moldova (hosts), Kazakhstan
group 2: Ukraine, Romania, Serbia (hosts), preliminary round Group B winners
group 3: Portugal (hosts), Slovakia, Belarus preliminary round Group C winners
group 4: Belgium, Finland, Latvia (hosts), Georgia
group 5France, Bosnia and Herzegovina (hosts), Greece, Azerbaijan
group 6: Spain (current champions), Netherlands (hosts), Hungary, Andorra
group 7: Italy (hosts), Turkey, Czechia, preliminary round Group A winners
- The group winners will join hosts Croatia in the final tournament, which is tentatively scheduled for September 3-10.
