Albania and Serbia to Co-Host the 2027 Under-21 European Championships

Albania and Serbia have been awarded the co-hosting rights for the 2027 Under-21 European Championship, as announced by UEFA on Tuesday. This decision comes after the two nations chose to put aside their historical tensions and collaborate on a joint bid.

The tournament, featuring 16 teams, will be held across four venues in Albania – namely Tirana, Shkoder, Elbasan, and Rrogozhine – and four in Serbia, which include Novi Sad, Loznica, Leskovac, and Zajecar.

The opening match is scheduled to occur in Serbia, while the final will take place in Albania. Both nations will automatically qualify for the tournament as hosts, alongside 14 additional spots available through the qualifying rounds.

Historically, relations between Serbia and Albania have been fraught, reaching a low during the conflict in Kosovo in the late 1990s. This period saw NATO’s intervention via airstrikes against Serbian forces, prompted by concerns over “ethnic cleansing” against Albanians.

Kosovo declared its independence in 2008; however, Serbia has refused to acknowledge this claim, asserting that the region, which is predominantly ethnic Albanian, is a crucial part of Serbian heritage.

In terms of footballing history, a notable incident occurred during a Euro 2016 qualifier in October 2014, when a drone displaying the “Greater Albania” flag disrupted the match between Serbia and Albania, leading to violence and forcing Albanian players to evacuate the field, which in turn sparked a diplomatic row.

Unlike the senior men’s European Championships, held every four years, the Under-21 tournament takes place biennially. Slovakia is set to host the next edition in June 2025, with England looking to defend their title.