The UEFA Women's Under-17 European Championship has concluded after two weeks of international football across Northern Ireland, with Germany lifting the trophy at Windsor Park and the hosts signing off their first finals campaign with a memorable win over the eventual champions.
Eight teams took part between 4 and 17 May. Group matches were staged at Inver Park in Larne and the Showgrounds in Coleraine, before both semi-finals and the final moved to Belfast. The format also determined five European places at the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup.
Northern Ireland entered the tournament as hosts and faced England, Norway and Germany in Group A. Defeats in the opening two matches left Gail Redmond's side outside the semi-final places, but their final fixture produced one of the notable results of the competition.
A 1-0 victory over Germany at Inver Park gave Northern Ireland their first win at a Women's Under-17 European final tournament. Germany had already secured progress, yet the result demonstrated the hosts' ability to compete with a team that would lift the trophy seven days later.
Group B featured France, Spain, Poland and Finland. France won all three group matches before overcoming Norway on penalties in the semi-final, while Germany reached the decider through a shootout victory over Spain at Windsor Park.
The final was settled by Marie Kleemann's first-half goal. Germany resisted sustained French pressure to win 1-0 and claim a ninth title, completing a campaign built around an organised defence and decisive moments in the knockout rounds.
Beyond the results, the competition brought international teams and supporters to three established football venues. Local volunteers, host clubs and tournament staff supported a schedule that included group matches on consecutive days and three major fixtures in Belfast.
For Northern Ireland's players, the event provided three competitive matches against leading European opposition on home soil. For the wider game, it offered young supporters the chance to watch a major youth tournament locally and placed women's football at the centre of the regional sporting calendar.
