The 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship will run from 5 to 18 June in Israel. The UEFA Executive Committee selected the hosts on 27 January 2011 – Bulgaria, Czech Republic, England and Wales were also in the running – and is Israel's first final tournament since the 2000 UEFA European U16 Championship, which was won by Portugal.

A week later the qualifying round draw was made and Ori Shilo, the CEO of the Israel Football Association (IFA), told UEFA.com: "We are so thrilled today that to stand in the hall felt like a dream for us all. There has been a lot of hard work to bring the final tournament to Israel and it was still so hard to believe when we walked into the front of the hall today for the draw and saw our names there as the hosts."

Seven teams will join Israel for the tournament, planned to be held in four venues.

Season calendar
14 September: Play-off draw (Nyon)
12-16 October: Play-offs
28 November: Final tournament draw (Israel)
5-18 June: Final tournament (Israel)