Article 3 Entries for the competition - Youth League

3.01

The competition is open to the following 64 teams:

1. the 32 youth teams of the clubs which qualify for the group stage of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League (UEFA Champions League path);

2. the domestic youth champions of the 32 best-ranked associations in the 2023/24 UEFA association coefficient rankings (domestic champions path), drawn up in accordance with Annex A. The relevant domestic youth championship, i.e. U17, U18 or U19 domestic championship, is defined by the national association and validated by UEFA.

3.02

If there is a vacancy in the UEFA Champions League path, replacement criteria will be defined by the UEFA administration and communicated in writing.

3.03

The UEFA Youth League titleholder automatically qualifies for the domestic champions path if it does not qualify for the competition in accordance with Paragraph 3.01, provided there is a vacancy.

3.04

Any additional vacancy in the domestic champions path is, in principle, filled by the domestic youth champion of the next best-ranked association in the 2023/24 UEFA association coefficient rankings, drawn up in accordance with Annex A.

3.05

If a team qualifies for both the UEFA Champions League path and the domestic champions path, it automatically participates in the UEFA Champions League path and the vacancy in the domestic champions path is filled in accordance with Paragraph 3.04.

3.06

The UEFA administration may grant exceptions to ensure that all the groups and pairings are complete.