Today, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, the draw for the qualification for the 2027 European Championship in Albania and Serbia for football players under 21 was held.

Our young selection of opponents received the national teams of Italy, Poland, Sweden, Montenegro and Armenia within Group E.

The qualification cycle will begin in March this year and will last until November 2026. The hosts of the upcoming European Championship, Albania and Serbia are direct participants in the tournament.

Goran Stanić, head coach of the Macedonian U21 national team;

- We drew a tough group, in addition to the favorite Italy, we got the toughest opponents Poland and Sweden from the second and third pots. Our group also includes Montenegro and Armenia, national teams that are not at all naive.

- We have to think positively and be optimistic. I emphasized earlier that I have maximum faith in this generation. We can and have the quality to compete with any national team.

- We need to use the next period until the start of the qualifiers in September in the best possible way to prepare ourselves as best we can and confidently and bravely welcome the start of the upcoming qualifiers.

- It is important for the players to believe in their qualities, to be maximally focused on the upcoming challenges, and the rest will fall into place.

- We are going step by step, match by match, I believe that we will not disappoint our fans and football lovers in Macedonia.

Qualification groups for Euro 2027 Albania and Slovenia;

Group A: Spain, Romania. Finland, Kosovo, Cyprus, San Marino

Group B: Portugal, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Scotland, Azerbaijan, Gibraltar

Group C: France, Switzerland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Estonia

Group D: England, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Andorra

Group E: Italy, Poland, Sweden, Macedonia, Montenegro, Armenia

Group F: Germany, Georgia, Greece, Northern Ireland, Latvia, Malta

Group G: Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Group H: Ukraine, Croatia, Hungary, Turkey, Lithuania

Group I: Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Belarus