A new youth national team is being added to Denmark’s talent pathway. When Denmark’s first U17 future national team lines up against Norway, it will mark a significant step in the Danish FA’s effort to support late-maturing players.
Expanding Opportunities for Young Talents
The Danish FA already runs talent centers with future activities at U14 and U15 and has a U16 future national team. The new U17 team extends that pathway and creates more options for young prospects.
These squads focus on players with strong football potential who are behind their peers in biological development. Within a single age group, maturity can differ by as much as five years, which can have a major effect on performance.
The initiative is part of the Danish FA’s Relative Growth Effect project, an ongoing effort to study and address differences in physical development. The approach aims to give later developers fairer competition, the right training environment, and more time to reach the same level as their peers, while keeping them in the system longer.
Players selected for future activities are viewed as candidates for Denmark’s national teams in the years ahead. The program is designed to offer support tailored to their situation and additional opportunities to improve.
By adding an U17 future team, the Danish FA aims to ensure talented players are not overlooked simply because they mature later. Research indicates there are multiple routes to the top, and broadening the pathway helps unlock the full potential within each age group.
Future national teams were first introduced in 2013, creating room for players who lag in physical growth. Graduates such as Mikkel Damsgaard, Jesper Lindstrøm, and Albert Grønbæk have shown the approach can pay off.
The new U17 future national team is set to play its first international match against Norway on Thursday, 25 September, at 13:00 at Rosendal Stadium. This exciting development showcases Denmark’s commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting inclusivity in youth football.