1972 UEFA European Under-23 Championship

The 1972 UEFA European Under-23 Championship, which spanned two years (1970–72) had 23 entrants. Czechoslovakia U-23s won the competition.

The 23 national teams were divided into eight groups. The group winners played off against each other on a two-legged home-and-away basis until the winner was decided. There was no finals tournament or 3rd-place playoff.

Draw
The allocation of teams into qualifying groups was based on that of UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying tournament with several changes, reflecting the absence of some nations:
 * Group 2 and 8 had the same competing nations
 * Group 1 did not include Wales
 * Group 3 did not include England and Malta
 * Group 4 did not include Northern Ireland and Cyprus
 * Group 5 did not include Belgium and Scotland
 * Group 6 did not include Republic of Ireland
 * Group 7 did not include Luxembourg