The 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship (also known as UEFA Under-21 Euro 2019) is the 22nd edition of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship (25th edition if the Under-23 era is also included), the biennial international youth football championship organised by UEFA for the men's under-21 national teams of Europe. The final tournament is hosted by Italy (and some matches by San Marino) in mid-2019, after their bid was selected by the UEFA Executive Committee on 9 December 2016 in Nyon, Switzerland. A total of 12 teams will play in the tournament, with players born on or after 1 January 1996 eligible to participate. Same as previous Under-21 Championships that were held one year prior to the Olympics, this tournament will serve as European qualifying for the Olympic football tournament, with the top four teams of the tournament qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympic men's football tournament in Japan, where they will be represented by their under-23 national teams with maximum of three overage players allowed. The four teams that will be qualified for the Olympic Games are the ones that wil be qualified for the knockout stages of this championship. For the first time, the video assistant referee (VAR) system will be used at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Germany are the defending champions.