December 18, 2001

UEFA Under-19 draw for 2002 UEFA Championship

A record 37 member associations with 28 countries have entered the competition. Germany, who won the last two UEFA European Women's Under-18 Championship competitions will automatically qualify for the

final tournament as hosts.

Seven Groups (B1 - B7)

The first qualifying round features seven groups of four associations. The matches are scheduled to take place between 2nd and 6th October 2002 and will be played as mini-tournaments hosted by one of the four countries involved. The group winners and the best runner-up will ensure their participate in the second, and final, qualifying round.

Successful qualifiers

The successful qualifiers will join the eight best associations based on UEFA's coefficient ranking - Norway, Spain, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands - in the second qualifying round.

Second qualifying round draw

That draw will take place in autumn 2002 when the 16

remaining nations will be divided into four groups of four

(A1 to A4), each comprising two seeded nations from the

eight best and two successful ones from the first qualifying

round. The four group winners and three best runners-up

will join Germany in the final round.

Finals place booked

England, the only country in Friday's draw to have already booked their place in the 2002 finals in Sweden, were paired with the Faroe Islands, Lithuania and Bulgaria in Group B5.

Fate to be decided

The Swiss, whose fate for the 2002 event will be decided in February or March next year when the third qualifying round draws to a close, are in Group B3, a section

containing Hungary, Moldova and Greece.

Unknown quantity

Belgium and Yugoslavia, who in February will battle it out with Norway and Spain - two of Europe's most powerful nations at this level - for a place in next year's finals, will both fancy their chances of reaching the second qualifying round.

The Belgians, will tackle Group B1 opponents Iceland, Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina,