UEFA Women's U19 EURO 2026: Meet the Next Generation of Women's Football Stars

The 2026 UEFA Women's U19 EURO has come to an end, with Spain crowned champions for the fifth consecutive time after narrow 1:0 win in the final against Germany. The decisive goal came from Real Madrid midfielder Irune Dorado, who finished off an assist from tournament MVP Rosalia Dominguez. Hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina, this year's tournament once again highlighted the extraordinary depth of young talent emerging across Europe.

Some of tomorrow's biggest stars have already announced themselves on the international stage. Here are the players who impressed us the most and who are well worth keeping an eye on in the years ahead.

Janne Krumme (Germany)

Three clean sheets during the tournament and a string of outstanding saves in the final. That was the impressive record of Germany goalkeeper Janne Krumme.

Although Germany lost in the final to Spain, Krumme can look back on an exceptional tournament. Time and again, she kept her side in games with crucial interventions, establishing herself as one of the standout goalkeepers of the competition.

Last year, the young shot-stopper signed for Eintracht Frankfurt. While she has so far featured primarily for the club's reserve side, her performances at the U19 EURO have strengthened her case for a place in the senior squad. Germany has a proud tradition of producing world-class goalkeepers, from Ann-Katrin Berger and Merle Frohms to Mala Grohs, and Krumme has shown she has the potential to become the next name on that list.

Alba Cerrato (Spain)

She may not have found the net in the final, but Alba Cerrato still finished as one of the tournament's joint top scorers with three goals, alongside Rosalia Dominguez and Ainoa Gomez.

The Sevilla forward scored three times and added an assist during the tournament, playing a key role in Spain's successful title defence. Although she did not get on the scoresheet in the final, Cerrato delivered another outstanding all-round performance as Spain lifted a second consecutive UEFA Women's U19 EURO trophy.

What makes her rise even more impressive is her club background. Unlike many of Spain's brightest young talents, Cerrato did not come through the academy of Barcelona or Real Madrid. Instead, she has developed at Sevilla, proving that the country's talent pool extends well beyond its two biggest clubs.

Mia-Lena Maas (Germany)

Germany may not have been able to end Spain’s winning run, but they can be proud of the determination and fighting spirit they showed throughout the tournament.

Their success was built largely on a disciplined and resilient defence, from Janne Krumme in goal to a back line led by Mia-Lena Maas. The 18-year-old Freiburg defender is coming off her first season of regular senior football, featuring for the first team in both domestic cup matches and the Frauen-Bundesliga. It was no surprise to see her earn a place in Germany’s U19 squad.

Maas produced arguably her finest performance in the semi-final against Austria, playing the full 120 minutes and helping Germany keep a clean sheet and secured their seat in the final. Calm, reliable and already gaining valuable experience at senior level, she is another name worth remembering.

Emmanuela Pfister (Switzerland)

Switzerland may have exited the UEFA Women's U19 EURO at the group stage, but they produced a series of impressive performances throughout the tournament.

Their campaign began with one of the biggest surprises of the group stage, as they held defending champions Spain to a 2:2 draw. The standout performer for the Swiss was undoubtedly Emanuela Pfister. Shortly before the tournament began, the talented forward completed a move from Grasshopper to RB Leipzig, where she will continue her development from next season.

With Brazilian roots and an eye for goal, Pfister finished the tournament as one of its brightest attacking talents. From next season, she will be showcasing her abilities in the Frauen-Bundesliga, and if her performances at the U19 EURO are anything to go by, she is certainly a player to keep an eye on.

Filippa Widén (Sweden)

Sweden made an impressive start to the tournament with convincing victories over Poland and hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina. A narrow defeat to Germany denied them top spot in the group, before their run came to an end against favourites Spain in the semifinals.

Despite falling short of the final, Sweden once again showcased a generation of players capable of following in the footsteps of the country's established stars. With Swedish internationals already thriving at many of Europe's biggest clubs, there is every reason to believe this group will soon make its mark at senior level.

Among the standout names was 16-year-old Fanny Peterson of Hammarby. The forward first caught the attention of many fans during the UEFA Women's Europa Cup, where she scored two stunning goals against Sparta Prague to send Hammarby into the final. 

Another player to watch is Filippa Widén of Kristianstad. The 17-year-old midfielder was named Player of the Match after scoring twice against Bosnia and Herzegovina, continuing the excellent form she had already shown during qualifying. Trusted with regular minutes in the Damallsvenskan despite her age, Widén is proving she has all the ingredients to become Kristianstad's next breakout star.