Waterford under-19s to compete in the UEFA Youth League as UEFA confirms line-up
Waterford under-19s in action against St Patrick's Athletic. Credit: Martin Doherty (ETPhotos)
Waterford will represent Ireland in the 64-team UEFA Youth League in 2020 when the draw for the Round of 64 is made on January 27th.
Gary Hunt’s side will take part in the straight knock-out domestic champions path after the federation confirmed the Blues as one of the 32 league winners to qualify.
The lowest-ranked of the Youth League qualifiers will one of the 31 other domestic league winners in a single-led tie at the beginning of March.
On the opposite side of the draw, the sides with senior teams in the Champions League will contest two single-led rounds before the two sides merge for the last 16.
Waterford qualify by virtue of winning the 2019 Under-19 National League but weren’t guaranteed to be one of the final 32.
The League of Ireland is ranked 37th in Europe, however Manchester City, Atalanta, Dynamo Kyiv and Red Bull Salzburg were entered into the Champions League route.
Liechtenstein is ranked higher than the League of Ireland but are not eligible to enter a team in the Youth League, opening up a spot for Waterford as the lowest-ranked qualifier.
Previous participants from Ireland in the UEFA Youth League are UCD (2017 v FK Molde) and Bohemians (2018 v Midtjylland, 2019 v PAOK).
Waterford join 14 other debutants in the competition: Angers, Apolonia, AZ Alkmaar, Celta Vigo, Chertanovo, Dinamo Minsk, Ferencváros, Górnik Zabrze, Györ, ?stanbul ?Ba?ak?ehir, Köln, Lazio, Odense and Olimpija Ljubljana.
