U20 Elite League 2026/27

The Under 20 Elite League operates as an invitational football tournament for national sides under the age of twenty. Organised primarily by a consortium of federations including the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the German Football Association (DFB), and the English Football Association (The FA), the competition was established in 2017. It functions as a high-level platform for U-20 squads during periods between major official international fixtures.

The structure follows a round-robin league format in which each participant plays every other team once. While the core of the field typically consists of Germany, England, Italy, and Portugal, the remaining slots rotate among other European nations such as the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Turkey, Norway, and the Netherlands. Matches are staged at centralized neutral venues or hosted by one of the participating federations, with participation determined by invitation rather than qualification through promotion or relegation.

Italy holds a notable position in the competition's history, having secured the title three times in succession during the 2021–22, 2022–23, and 2023–24 campaigns. Germany claimed victory in the inaugural 2017–18 season and retained the championship in the 2024–25 edition. The Netherlands won the 2018–19 title, while the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were disrupted by external circumstances. The tournament stands apart from the UEFA Youth League, which is restricted to club sides, and the UEFA Under-19 European Championship, serving as a distinct developmental stage for the national teams involved.