Spain U17 took control in Group A of the European Championship with a narrow victory against Belgium
The Spain under-17 football national team achieved an important victory in the second round of Group A of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, defeating Belgium 1:0 at Rakvere linnastaadion in the Estonian city of Rakvere. According to UEFA's official schedule, the match was played on 28 May 2026, and the only goal was scored by Abdou Kemo Badji, whose celebration after the opening goal UEFA highlighted in the official competition report. The narrow scoreline does not change the impression that the match carried great weight for both national teams, because it came after opening victories by Spain and Belgium in the group. With this win, Spain linked two successful performances and moved into a very favourable position ahead of the final round, while Belgium, after a good start, suffered its first defeat at the final tournament. In a competition in which only the two best national teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, every point in Group A has considerable value.
One goal decided the duel between two previously unbeaten teams
The meeting between Belgium and Spain had been announced as one of the key duels of Group A, primarily because both national teams had made a strong impression in the first round. Belgium, according to UEFA's report from the first round, opened the tournament with a 2:0 victory against Croatia, with Jelle Driessen and Tinus Moorthamer scoring already in the early phase of the match. Spain defeated host Estonia 4:1 on the same day in Tallinn, and UEFA emphasized in that report that the Spanish team dominated for most of the encounter. For that reason, their head-to-head match in Rakvere had both competitive and psychological importance: the winner could take a major step toward the knockout stage, while the loser had to wait for the outcome of the final round. In the end, one detail made the difference in Spain's favour, and the defensive stability of Sergio García's team proved decisive.
According to UEFA's match post, Spain coach Sergio García emphasized after the encounter his satisfaction with the victory and the fact that his team did not concede a goal. His statement that Belgium are a strong opponent describes the character of the match well: Spain did not reach the points with a convincing result as in the first round, but through control of key moments and the ability to hold the advantage until the end. Belgium, on the other hand, remained in contention for progression, but with the defeat lost the comfort brought by the victory against Croatia. In this tournament format, the difference between first and third position can change in a single match, especially when the group consists of national teams with different styles, but with pronounced competitive continuity at younger age levels. Therefore, Belgium's defeat is not only a lost match, but also a change of dynamics ahead of the conclusion of the group.
Spain strengthened the top, Belgium remained in the fight
After the second round of Group A, Spain have two victories from two matches: 4:1 against Estonia and 1:0 against Belgium. According to UEFA's official results schedule, Belgium first defeated Croatia 2:0 at the tournament, and then lost to Spain 0:1. In the other match of the second round of Group A, Croatia defeated Estonia 3:1 on 28 May, further opening the battle for second place. Such an outcome means that Spain enter the final round with the best record, while Belgium and Croatia each have one win and one defeat. Estonia, the tournament host, remained without points after defeats to Spain and Croatia, but with their first appearance at the final U17 EURO tournament they have already achieved an important developmental step forward.
UEFA stated in the tournament preview that the two best national teams from each of the two groups advance to the semi-finals. That rule gives additional weight to the final round, which in Group A is scheduled for 31 May 2026. According to the official schedule, Spain then play Croatia in Rakvere, while Belgium meet Estonia at Lilleküla staadion in Tallinn. For Belgium, in that duel it will be important not only to win, but also to follow the outcome of the match between Spain and Croatia, because the overall points balance and additional criteria may decide the final standings. Spain gained the greatest security with the victory against Belgium, but in the final round still have to confirm their position against Croatia, a national team that restored competitive balance in the group with the victory over Estonia.
The tournament in Estonia has a shortened and demanding format
The 2026 European Under-17 Championship is being held in Estonia from 25 May to 7 June, UEFA announced in its official tournament information. The final tournament brings together eight national teams divided into two groups, and matches are played at four stadiums: Lilleküla staadion, Kadriorg staadion and Kalevi Keskstaadion in Tallinn, and Rakvere linnastaadion in Rakvere. Group A consists of Estonia, Belgium, Croatia and Spain, while Group B includes Montenegro, France, Italy and Denmark. Such a format leaves little room for error, because the semi-finalists are determined after only three rounds. Unlike longer tournaments, here even a narrow victory can have value that goes beyond the match itself, especially when it comes against a direct rival for progression.
UEFA stated that Estonia is organizing and playing in the final tournament of the European Under-17 Championship for the first time, although the country had previously hosted other UEFA youth competitions. In the same official overview it was noted that Estonia had previously hosted the 2012 European Under-19 Championship and the 2023 Women's European Under-17 Championship, while Lilleküla staadion hosted the UEFA Super Cup in 2018. The organization of the tournament in four cities, that is, at four stadiums within the Tallinn-Rakvere framework, gives the competition a compact structure and enables short intervals between matches. For young national teams, this means that the emphasis is placed not only on technical quality, but also on recovery, squad depth and the ability of coaching staffs to prepare the next match in a short time. In that context, with the victory over Belgium Spain gained both a results advantage and additional control over their own schedule.
Badji as goalscorer and Spanish continuity in younger categories
Abdou Kemo Badji was the player who decided the match in Rakvere, and his goal confirms the breadth of Spain's attacking potential at this tournament. In its presentation of the participants before the start of the finals, UEFA stated that Ebrima Tunkara was Spain's top scorer in the qualifying cycle with four goals, while the team itself achieved a series of convincing results through the first round and second round of qualifying. Spain, according to the same UEFA overview, defeated Andorra 3:0, Latvia 5:0 and Denmark 4:0 in the first round, and Northern Ireland 2:0 and Scotland 3:0 in the second round, with a 0:0 draw against Türkiye. Such a run points to a team that does not rely exclusively on one goalscorer, but on an organized structure and the ability to create chances from multiple sources. In the match against Belgium, that translated into a more rational, results-mature performance.
Spain have a strong history at this age level. UEFA states in the participant overview that Spain, including the previous competition for the under-16 age group, have won a record nine titles, while in the U-17 format they were champions in 2007, 2008 and 2017. That fact does not decide matches on the pitch, but it explains why Spain's youth selections are regularly followed with great expectations. In this tournament edition, Spain showed attacking breadth in the first round, and against Belgium the ability to play a match with a smaller number of goals. For a development national team, that is an important combination, because international youth tournaments often also serve as a test of tactical adaptation, concentration and emotional control in high-pressure situations.
Belgium must respond against the hosts after their first defeat
Belgium arrived in Estonia with a very good qualifying record. In its presentation of the participants, UEFA stated that the Belgian U17 national team won its group in the qualifying round, and then also its group in the second round of qualifying, with victories against Switzerland, Serbia and Cyprus. The same overview states that Kiyan Achahbar was Belgium's top scorer in qualifying with five goals, and that Belgium played in the semi-final of the U17 EURO in the 2024/25 season. In addition, UEFA highlighted that Belgium had progressed from the group in six of their previous nine appearances at final tournaments. Such continuity shows that the defeat to Spain is not a sign of a weak team, but part of a very demanding group in which small margins decide.
For Belgium, the final match against Estonia will have clear competitive value. The host conceded seven goals in the first two rounds, but against Spain scored a historic goal in its first final U17 EURO appearance, which UEFA singled out in the first-round report. Belgium therefore cannot count on a match without pressure, especially because the host, in front of its own crowd, has the motivation to finish the group with a positive result. The Belgian national team will have to repeat the efficiency from the duel against Croatia, but also avoid a scenario in which missed chances leave room for complications in the standings. In such a context, the 0:1 defeat to Spain becomes a warning that even a very good tournament team can lose balance if it does not take advantage of key moments.
Croatia's victory over Estonia further sharpened the group outcome
The result of the other match of the second round of Group A is important for understanding the broader picture. UEFA announced in the official schedule that Croatia defeated Estonia 3:1 on 28 May, after losing to Belgium 0:2 in the first round. With that, Croatia remained in the fight for the semi-finals and in the final round play directly against Spain. Spain's victory over Belgium simultaneously opened the possibility that the standings behind the leading national team will be decided in a very tight finish. For that reason, Belgium cannot view its match against Estonia in isolation, because the final picture of the group will also be shaped in Rakvere, where Croatia are seeking a result against Spain.
The matches of the final round of Group A are played at the same time, which is a customary solution for preserving competitive equality at the end of the group. UEFA's schedule states that the duels Spain - Croatia and Belgium - Estonia are scheduled for 31 May at 13:30 Central European Time. For Spain, it will be an opportunity to confirm first place or at least remain in the best possible position for the semi-finals. For Croatia and Belgium, these will be matches full of pressure, because after two rounds both national teams have enough reason to believe in progression, but also enough reason for caution. Estonia, although without points, remains a factor because it can influence the final group standings.
A narrow victory with major consequences
In youth football, a 1:0 result often carries a broader message than the statistics alone. Against Belgium, Spain showed that after a convincing victory over Estonia they can also win a match in which the margin for error is significantly smaller. According to UEFA's official information, the Spanish team is now in the best position in Group A, and the victory without conceding a goal further confirms the tactical discipline that coach García highlighted after the encounter. Belgium, meanwhile, remain among the candidates for progression, but in the final round will have to show a reaction after their first defeat. In a tournament that lasts only two weeks and in which the group ends after three rounds, such moments often determine the sporting direction of the entire competition.
Spain's victory in Rakvere can therefore be viewed as one of the key results of the current part of Group A. It was not marked by a large number of goals, but it had a direct effect on the standings, confidence and pressure ahead of the final round. Belgium remained with realistic prospects for the semi-finals, Croatia returned to the game with the victory over Estonia, and the host will await the end of the group with the motivation to achieve its first point in front of home fans. Spain, however, are the only team after two rounds of Group A to have maintained a perfect record. That is the most important fact after the duel in Rakvere and the best indicator of how much Abdou Kemo Badji's goal changed the competitive picture of the group.
Sources:
- UEFA – official match page Belgium U17 - Spain U17 with result, statements and match information (link)
- UEFA – schedule and results of the 2026 European Under-17 Championship final tournament in Estonia (link)
- UEFA – official information on the final tournament, groups, stadiums and competition format (link)
- UEFA – presentation of the participants of the 2026 European Under-17 Championship, qualifying performance and historical context of the national teams (link)
- UEFA – first-round overview with information on the opening victories of Spain and Belgium (link)