2021/22 Women's U19 round 1 report

Round 1 of the new UEFA Nations League-style UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship involved a record 52 teams, including debutants Andorra, competing to stay in or gain promotion to the top-tier League A for round 2 in the spring.

The new format replaces the old qualifying and elite rounds, still featuring one-venue mini-tournaments but now including two leagues with promotion and relegation leading to the 2022 finals in the Czech Republic (who compete in the two rounds before automatically progressing to the final tournament). The competition returned after the 2019/20 and 2020/21 editions were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Promotion

• From League B to A: the six group winners plus best runner-up – Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Wales

Relegation

• From League A to B: the seven teams ranked fourth in their groups – Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey

The round 2 draw will be held at 15:00 CET on 9 December, with the seven League A group winners in the spring joining the Czech Republic in the finals from 27 June to 9 July 2022. There will also be promotion and relegation between Leagues A and B ahead of round 1 for the 2022/23 edition. Seedings for the round 2 draw will be determined by the positions in which each team finished in round 1.

• Results
• How the new system works

Round 1 groups

LEAGUE A

Group A1
Stay in League A for round 2: Austria, Netherlands*, Ukraine
Transfer to League B: Scotland

The Netherlands were second in Group A1Getty Images

Group A2
Stay in League A for round 2: France (holders), Sweden, Iceland
Transfer to League B: Serbia*

Group A3
Stay in League A for round 2: Germany, Belgium, Russia*
Transfer to League B: Slovenia

Group A4
Stay in League A for round 2: Denmark*, Finland, Hungary
Transfer to League B: Turkey

Group A5
Stay in League A for round 2: England, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland*
Transfer to League B: Northern Ireland

Group A6
Stay in League A for round 2: Spain, Czech Republic (finals hosts), Portugal*
Transfer to League B: Slovakia

Group A7
Stay in League A for round 2: Italy*, Norway, Poland
Transfer to League B: Azerbaijan

LEAGUE B

Group B1
Promoted to League A for round 2: Belarus*
Stay in League B: North Macedonia, Faroe Islands, Cyprus

Group B2
Promoted to League A for round 2: Bulgaria*, Greece**
Stay in League B: Lithuania, Kazakhstan

Group B3
Promoted to League A for round 2: Wales
Stay in League B: Albania, Andorra*, Moldova

Group B4
Promoted to League A for round 2: Romania
Stay in League B: Georgia, Israel, Malta*

Liechtenstein drew with Latvia to get their first-ever point in UEFA women's competitionDeFodi Images via Getty Images

Group B5
Promoted to League A for round 2: Croatia*
Stay in League B: Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Latvia

Group B6
Promoted to League A for round 2: Bosnia and Herzegovina*
Stay in League B: Montenegro, Estonia, Armenia

*Mini-tournament hosts
**Best runners-up