The 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which spanned two years (1996–98), had 46 entrants.

The exclusion (for political reasons) of the team from Serbia and Montenegro, then known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ended.

The records of the nine group winners were compared, and the eighth and ninth ranked teams played-off against each other for the eight quarter finals spot.

The qualifying stage for the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship saw Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain and Sweden win their respective groups.

Greece defeated England in a playoff to qualify for the tournament.