England hosted the final tournament from 26 November to 8 December 2013, taking it for the first time outside of Nyon, Switzerland.

It was the first edition to feature eight finalist teams, and served as the qualifier for the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, to be held in March–April 2014.

As hosts, England qualified automatically for the final tournament, while France, Germany and Spain received a bye to the second round due to their coefficient ranking.

Forty teams entered the draw for the first round, held on 20 November 2012, where they were distributed in ten groups of four.

If only two teams are tied (according to criteria 1–7) after having met in the last match of the group stage, their ranking is determined by a penalty shoot-out.