The Under 15 Boys Team competition is set to usher in a new generation of European stars at the 2026 European Youth Championships in Gondomar. While defending champions Italy no longer feature the squad that retained the title in Ostrava, the race for gold promises to be one of the most open events of the Championships, with several ambitious nations boasting talented young line-ups.
Italy successfully defended their title last year after overcoming first-time finalists Türkiye in a thrilling final. It marked back-to-back European crowns for the Italians, whose previous triumph before their recent resurgence had come back in 1993.
The championship-winning team featured Danilo FASO, Francesco TREVISAN, Giulio CAMPAGNA and Pietro CAMPAGNA, while silver medallists Türkiye were represented by Kenan KAHRAMAN, Görkem ÖÇAL, Kuzey GÜNDOĞDU and Ahmet ŞAHAN.
Germany, represented by Jonas RINDERER, Lukas WANG, Samuel KUHL and Tian Nghia PHONG, and Poland, with Jan MRUGALA, Mateusz WISNIEWSKI, Piotr LACKI and Hubert KWIECIŃSKI, completed the podium with bronze medals.
A year later, the landscape has changed significantly, with many of last year’s protagonists having moved into the Under 19 category.
Top seeds Spain lead this year’s field with Marcos GOMEZ, Alexander MALOV, Ladimir MAYOROV and Roger QUESADA, while second-seeded Türkiye once again look among the strongest contenders with Emre BUCAK, Görkem ÖÇAL, Ali Enes SEREN and Kaan TUNA.
Germany, seeded third, rely on Jonathan KRAFT, Kirill MANALAKI, Tien Nghia PHONG and Lukas WANG, while fourth seeds Poland are represented by Olaf GLANERT, Hubert KWIECIŃSKI, Ignacy SŁAWIŃSKI and Jakub TURECKI.
Czechia, Sweden, Austria and France complete the top eight seeds. Czechia field Richard FEBER JR., Vojtěch LASTOVKA, Ondřej MORÁVEK and Oliver OLEJNÍK, Sweden are represented by Emil ELLERMANN, Joel ISAKSSON and Erik KOGERFELT, Austria by Benjamin BIAN, Sung Bing CHEN, Louis FEGERL and Joshua SAMS, while France arrive with Tim ESCUDIER, Nolan JOHNSTON, Quentin SANDONA and Noah TESSIER.
Defending champions Italy begin their title defence as the fifteenth seeds with Pietro ANDREOLI, Pietro CAMPAGNA, Tommaso SIMI and Jan SLAVEC. Although only one member of last year’s winning squad returns, the Italians have shown repeatedly that they know how to rise to the occasion in this competition.
With a fresh generation eager to make its mark, traditional powerhouses seeking to establish new dynasties and several emerging nations ready to challenge, the Under 15 Boys Team event promises to produce another memorable chapter in the European Youth Championships.
