UEFA Youth League
Teams
Benfica U19
PSG U19
Bayern Munich U19
FC Porto U19
Juventus U19
Shakhtar Donetsk U19
Dinamo Zagreb U19
Sporting U19
Monaco U19
Dynamo Kiev U19
Sparta Prague U19
Lille U19
Besiktas U19
Malmo FF U19
Schalke U19
MSK Zilina U19
Lokomotiv Moscow U19
Legia Warsaw U19
Borussia M'gladbach U19
MTK Budapest U19
Slovan Bratislava U19
Nantes U19
Maccabi Tel Aviv U19
Altinordu U19
Elfsborg U19
Braga U19
Slavia Prague U19
Puskas Academy U19
FC Nitra U19
Marseille U19
Rennes U19
Montpellier U19
Mainz U19
Sigma Olomouc U19
Partizan Belgrade U19
FC Ashdod U19
Angers U19
Hammarby U19
AS Trencin U19
Lech Poznan U19
Budapest Honved U19
FK Rad Beograd U19
Bordeaux U19
Cologne U19
AIK U19
St Patricks U19
Korona Kielce U19
Istanbul Basaksehir U19
FC Honka U19
Zaglebie Lubin U19
Wikipedia - UEFA Youth League
The UEFA Youth League is an annual club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 2013. In its current format, it is contested by the under-19 teams of the clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League league phase, plus the domestic youth champions of the best-ranked national associations.
The semi-finals and final matches have been traditionally played at the Colovray Stadium in Nyon, Switzerland, although for the 2022–23 edition, they were moved to the Stade de Genève due to increased interest in the tournament from the supporters of the participating clubs. The winners are awarded the Lennart Johansson Trophy, named in honour of the former UEFA president.
The most successful teams are Barcelona and Chelsea, with two titles each. Chelsea won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016, while Barcelona won the inaugural season of the competition and clinched their second trophy in 2018. The current champions are Olympiacos, who beat Milan 3–0 in the 2024 final.
History
In May 2010, UEFA organised a match, referred to as the "UEFA Under-18 Challenge", between the under-18 teams of Bayern Munich and Internazionale, three days prior to the UEFA Champions League Final between the respective senior sides. Internazionale won the match 2–0 with two goals from Denis Alibec. The match was part of "UEFA Grassroots Day", and acted as an inspiration for the UEFA Youth League.
The teams in the first tournament, 2013–14 UEFA Youth League, played a group stage with the same composition and calendar as the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League group stage, and was held on a 'trial basis'.
The eight group-winners and eight runners-up from group stage then participated in a knockout phase. Unlike the UEFA Champions League, the knockout phase had single-leg ties, with the semi-finals and final played at neutral venues.
British media commented that the competition was formed to displace the NextGen Series.
In April 2014, Barcelona became the first champion, beating Benfica by 3–0 in the final-four held in Nyon.
After a two-year trial period, the UEFA Youth League became a permanent UEFA competition starting from the 2015–16 season, with the tournament expanded from 32 to 64 teams to allow the youth domestic champions of the top 32 associations according to their UEFA country coefficients to also participate. The 32 UEFA Champions League group stage youth teams retain the group stage format, with the group winners advancing to the round of 16 and the runners-up advancing to the play-offs. The 32 youth domestic champions play two rounds of two-legged ties, with the eight winners advancing to the play-offs, where they play a single match at home against the Champions League path runners-up. The round of 16 onwards retain the same format of single-leg ties as before.
From the 2024–25 season onwards, the format of the UEFA Youth League will change to accommodate the changes to be seen in the UEFA Champions League, with some differences:
- The new 36 team group stage for the Champions League path will only mirror the first 6 matchdays of the senior competition, with the top 22 teams making the knockout stage
- The domestic champions path will be expanded to three rounds, with the remaining 10 clubs facing the teams ranked 7th to 16th in the group stage (The top 6 from the Champions League path will face the teams ranked 17th to 22nd)
- The Youth League champions from the previous season qualify for the domestic champions path unless their senior team makes the Champions League group stage, in which case they will participate in the Champions League path
The competition features youth teams from clubs that qualify for the UEFA Champions League, alongside domestic champions from various European leagues. This unique blend of elite youth talent provides a competitive environment where young players can gain invaluable experience and exposure to international football.
The tournament is structured in two main phases: a group stage followed by knockout rounds, culminating in a final that determines the champion. Matches are held in iconic stadiums across Europe, allowing young athletes to play in front of passionate crowds and under the watchful eyes of scouts and coaches from top clubs.
The UEFA Youth League not only emphasizes the development of young talent but also promotes the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play. It has become a vital stepping stone for aspiring footballers, many of whom go on to make their mark in professional football. With its rich history and commitment to nurturing the next generation of stars, the UEFA Youth League continues to be a highlight in the football calendar, inspiring youth players across Europe and beyond.