The road to the 2026/27 UEFA European Under-19 and Under-17 Championships officially began for Malta as the draws were held earlier today at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The ceremony was presided over by Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo, who chaired the proceedings in his role as Chairman of the UEFA Youth and Amateur Football Committee.

Before the draw, Mr Vassallo also took part in the presentation of the UEFA Respect Fair Play trophies, awarding winners across the youth categories and highlighting UEFA’s ongoing commitment to sportsmanship and positive conduct on and off the pitch.

U19: Malta Drawn in Group 4 of League B

In the UEFA European Under-19 Championship Qualifying Round 1 draw, Malta were placed in Group 4 of League B. They will face:

• Norway
• Albania
• Luxembourg

The fixtures will take place between 23rd and 31st March 2026, with Malta aiming to build on recent improvements in youth development and secure progression to the next phase.

U17: Challenging Group for Malta

The draw for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship Qualifying Round 1 followed shortly after, with Malta placed in Group 5 alongside strong European opponents:

• Norway
• Slovakia
• Netherlands

These U17 mini-tournaments will be played between 1st July and 17th November 2026, offering Malta’s young talents a valuable opportunity to test themselves against some of the continent’s elite youth systems.

With both youth squads set for competitive and development-rich campaigns, the Malta FA continues to emphasise long-term growth and international experience for its emerging players.