By Match Zone Youth Football Desk
The 2026 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Estonia has officially drawn to an exhilarating conclusion, capping off nearly two weeks of intense continental competition running from May 25 to June 7. It was a historic tournament for Estonia, marking the very first time the nation hosted the final phase of this prestigious youth showcase.
The tournament reached its dramatic climax in Tallinn, where Italy were crowned U17 European champions after overcoming Belgium in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out in the grand final.
Below is the exhaustive, definitive tournament recap and results guide from Match Zone, detailing every scoreline, match site, group stage outcome, and knockout fixture from the 2026 U17 EURO.
Stadium Host Venues
The tournament was staged across four key venues in Estonia, with the capital city of Tallinn hosting the majority of the action alongside Rakvere:
- Lilleküla Staadion, Tallinn: Hosted three group stage encounters, one semi-final, and the grand final.
- Kadrioru Staadion, Tallinn: Hosted three group stage matches and one semi-final.
- Kalevi Keskstaadion, Tallinn: Hosted three group stage matches.
- Rakvere Linnastaadion, Rakvere: Hosted three group stage matches.
Knockout Phase Results & Championship Summary
Grand Final
Sunday, June 7, 2026
- Belgium 1–1 Italy (Italy win 4–3 on penalties) — Lilleküla Staadion, Tallinn(Italy secured the U17 EURO championship trophy after holding their nerve in a high-tension penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw in regular time).
Semi-Finals
Thursday, June 4, 2026
- Semi-Final 1: Belgium 2–1 France — Kadrioru Staadion, Tallinn
- Semi-Final 2: Italy 1–1 Spain (Italy win 4–2 on penalties) — Lilleküla Staadion, Tallinn
Complete Group Stage Fixtures & Results
Group Stage Composition
- Group A: Estonia (Hosts), Belgium, Croatia, Spain
- Group B: Denmark, France, Italy, Montenegro
Matchday 1
Monday, May 25, 2026 (Group A)
- Croatia 0–2 Belgium
- Estonia 1–4 Spain
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 (Group B)
- Italy 1–0 France
- Montenegro 1–2 Denmark
Matchday 2
Thursday, May 28, 2026 (Group A)
- Belgium 0–1 Spain
- Estonia 1–3 Croatia
Friday, May 29, 2026 (Group B)
- Montenegro 0–3 Italy
- France 4–0 Denmark
Matchday 3
Sunday, May 31, 2026 (Group A)
- Spain 2–3 Croatia
- Belgium 1–0 Estonia
Monday, June 1, 2026 (Group B)
- Denmark 3–3 Italy
- France 5–0 Montenegro
Tournament Highlights & Group Stage Breakdown
The group phase provided non-stop entertainment and tactical battles across both sections:
- Group A Drama: Spain started strong with a 4–1 win over hosts Estonia, but Group A stayed fiercely open. Belgium rebounded from a 1–0 loss against Spain by defeating host nation Estonia 1–0 on the final matchday, securing their passage to the semi-finals alongside Spain, despite Croatia’s thrilling 3–2 victory over the Spaniards in their group finale.
- Group B Showcase: Italy demonstrated resilience from the opening day, edging out France 1–0 before dispatching Montenegro 3–0. A thrilling 3–3 draw against Denmark on Matchday 3 guaranteed Italy top spot in the group. Meanwhile, France recovered from their opening loss to deliver back-to-back dominant wins over Denmark (4–0) and Montenegro (5–0) to join Italy in the final four.
In the knockout stages, Belgium edged past France 2–1, while Italy required penalties to eliminate Spain (4–2 on spot-kicks after a 1–1 draw). That resilience carried into the grand finale, where Italy once again held their nerve from 12 yards out to seal a memorable 4–3 shootout triumph over Belgium and lift the 2026 European Under-17 crown.
Stay tuned to Match Zone for continuing coverage, player scouting reports, tactical analyses, and in-depth updates across all international youth football tournaments.
