Albania Under-21 participated in the Balkan Youth Championship as a succeder^{[clarification needed]} of Under-23 team, in the 1976–78 and 1981 competitions, winning both with finals against Romania and Bulgaria. Notably in 1978, the second leg of the final match against Romania was characterized by a large Albania's win 7–1, which is the largest win ever recorded by Albania U-21.^[3]

In 1978 a Competition for the European Under-21 teams was created but the Albania Under-21s didn't participated in first 3 editions and debuted in the competition in the 1984s Championship where they managed to qualify for the first and only time in their history although they were competing for the first time in such tournament. The historic event was the first time any Albanian squad qualified for a Europe or World Championship, and only the fifth time any Albanian squad qualified for the major championships. To this day the team that qualified for that competition are still regarded as the most successful team in Albanian football history. In the qualifying stage they were drawn in a very tough group which included the West Germany, Turkey and Austria. Albania U21 managed to qualify without losing a single game winning both home-away versus Austria (1–2 away & 3–0 home) & Turkey (both 1–0) and managing two very good draws against one of the biggest and best footballing nations, West Germany (both 1–1), heading the group with 10 points, 1 above West Germany. Albania played the quarter finals against Italy, against which it lost twice 0–1 both home and away as Italy advanced to the semifinals losing against England, the eventual champions.

In the 1986 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last in group after Poland and Greece, and could not qualify. In the 1988 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came again last in group after Spain, Romania and Austria. In the 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last in group after Sweden, England and Poland. In the 1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship managed to precede Iceland as last in the group, but was preceded by Czechoslovakia, France and Spain. In the qualifiers of the 1994 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania preceded bottom team Republic of Ireland, but was preceded by Spain, Germany and Denmark.

In the 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification Albania did not participate. In the qualifiers of the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left behind Armenia, but had to trail in the final rankings Germany, Ukraine, and Portugal. In the qualifiers of the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania trailed Greece, Norway, Georgia, Latvia, and Slovenia and closed at the bottom of the group. In the qualifiers of the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came again last behind England, Greece, Germany, and Finland.

In the qualifiers of the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania had the best result since Euro '84, when it had won the group, as it left two teams behind (Republic of Ireland and Georgia), but was preceded by Switzerland and Russia, and thus failed to qualify to the main tournament. In the qualifiers of the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left behind itself Kazakhstan, but was preceded by Denmark, Ukraine, Greece, Turkey, and Georgia. In the qualifiers of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in a 3 teams group, Albania came last behind Spain and Slovakia and failed to qualify.

In the qualifiers of the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania was fourth out of 6 teams in the final ranking, leaving behind the Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan, but trailing behind Italy, Croatia and Greece. In the qualifiers of the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left again behind Azerbaijan but trailed Scotland, Belarus, and Austria in the final rankings. In the qualifiers of the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last trailing behind Russia, Portugal, Poland, and Moldova. However, as a consolation for the first time an Albanian footballer, Armando Sadiku was the top goalscorer of the group. Albania drew in Russia against the famous hosts during that tournament, a noticeable fact. Albania were also able to draw against Portugal in Durrës with 2–2 during this qualifying. Albania suffered close loses against Poland in Grudziądz with 4–3 and to Russia with 0–1 in Durrës respectively.

In the qualification in Group 4 Albania would finish in last place. They were able to beat Hungary with 0–2 away from home.^[4] Albania would also beat notable Austria with 1–3 away from home in the Liebenauer Stadium in Graz.^[5] As a fact Albanian won for the first time in their history more matches away than at home in an Under-21 qualification. In the following 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 4. Albania finished fourth leaving Hungary and Liechtenstein but trailing behind Greece, Israel and eventual Group winners Portugal. securing 12 points in the progress. Albania were able to win three matches in this qualifying. They beat Liechtenstein with 2-0 and away from home with the same result. As well as beating Hungary in Elbasan with 2–1 in fact.^[6] They drew three times once against Israel in Elbasan with 1-1 and away to Hungary with 2-2 and in the derby at home against Greece with 0:0.^[7]

The event was classified as a U-23/21 tournament where at time were played three competitions, 1972, 1974 & 1976.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship record										UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1978	Did not enter									did not enter
1980
1982
1984	Quarter-finals	6th	2	0	0	2	0	2		6	4	2	0	9	3
1986	Did not qualify									4	1	0	3	3	7
1988										6	0	2	4	4	10
1990										6	0	1	5	1	8
1992										7	1	2	4	3	13
1994										8	1	2	5	5	18
1996										did not enter
1998										8	1	1	6	6	19
2000										10	1	4	5	8	21
2002										8	1	1	6	3	19
2004										8	3	1	4	10	10
2006										12	2	3	7	9	27
2007										2	0	1	1	0	3
2009										10	3	3	4	10	13
2011										8	1	1	6	11	20
2013										8	1	2	5	11	18
2015										8	2	0	6	7	15
2017										10	3	3	4	11	20
2019										10	1	4	5	9	17
2021										10	4	2	4	16	21
2023										10	3	1	6	9	17
2025										10	5	1	4	12	17
2027	Qualified as co-hosts									Qualified as co-hosts
Total			2	0	0	2	0	2		169

• The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Slovenia & Italy, on 5 and 8 June 2026.^[9]
• Caps and goals are correct as of 8 June 2026^[update], after the match against Italy.
• Players in bold have been called up or have played at least one full international match with national senior team.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Simon Simoni	(2004-07-14) 14 July 2004 (age 21)	15	0	1. FC Kaiserslautern
	1GK	Giulio Veliaj	(2005-04-01) 1 April 2005 (age 21)	4	0	Forlì
	1GK	Alain Taho	(2007-04-30) 30 April 2007 (age 19)	2	0	Inter U20
	1GK	Klevi Totoshi	(2005-05-21) 21 May 2005 (age 21)	0	0	AF Elbasani
	2DF	Arlind Kurti	(2005-01-24) 24 January 2005 (age 21)	16	0	Laçi
	2DF	Elton Fikaj	(2005-10-18) 18 October 2005 (age 20)	16	0	Piast Gliwice
	2DF	Ervin Bashi	(2005-07-24) 24 July 2005 (age 20)	11	0	Catanzaro
	2DF	Fabjan Përndreca	(2005-12-06) 6 December 2005 (age 20)	9	0	Bylisi
	2DF	Zylyf Muça	(2005-03-07) 7 March 2005 (age 21)	8	0	Trento
	2DF	Enes Osmani	(2004-02-13) 13 February 2004 (age 22)	7	1	Sparta Prague
	2DF	Aurel Marku	(2005-01-13) 13 January 2005 (age 21)	4	0	Bylisi
	2DF	Maldini Kacurri	(2005-10-04) 4 October 2005 (age 20)	3	0	Grimsby Town
	2DF	Adi Kurti	(2006-01-17) 17 January 2006 (age 20)	2	0	Ternana
	3MF	Feta Fetai (captain)	(2005-05-11) 11 May 2005 (age 21)	15	1	Sharjah
	3MF	Etnik Brruti	(2004-03-04) 4 March 2004 (age 22)	10	3	Malisheva
	3MF	Burak Alili	(2004-02-11) 11 February 2004 (age 22)	10	1	Stade Nyonnais
	3MF	Aidon Shehu	(2006-10-11) 11 October 2006 (age 19)	10	1	Scarborough Athletic
	3MF	Dario Daka	(2004-01-24) 24 January 2004 (age 22)	8	1	Vora
	3MF	Ammar Asani	(2006-06-11) 11 June 2006 (age 20)	3	0	Trelleborg
	3MF	Benjamin Dibrani	(2004-02-09) 9 February 2004 (age 22)	1	0	Mérida
	4FW	Kevin Dodaj	(2005-09-03) 3 September 2005 (age 20)	13	2	Vllaznia
	4FW	Rrok Toma	(2004-02-27) 27 February 2004 (age 22)	12	0	Partizani
	4FW	Erald Maksuti	(2004-05-10) 10 May 2004 (age 22)	10	1	Flamurtari
	4FW	Elmedin Rama	(2005-03-25) 25 March 2005 (age 21)	5	1	Vlašim
	4FW	Olsi Myrta	(2006-01-20) 20 January 2006 (age 20)	2	0	Laçi

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Aron Jukaj	(2005-06-19) 19 June 2005 (age 21)	3	0	Vllaznia	v.  Uzbekistan, 30 March 2026
GK	Skander Tahri	(2005-01-03) 3 January 2005 (age 21)	0	0	Luftëtari	v.  Uzbekistan, 30 March 2026
GK	Endri Dema	(2004-04-17) 17 April 2004 (age 22)	2	0	Besa	v.  Ukraine, 17 November 2025
GK	Anxhelo Sina	(2004-01-07) 7 January 2004 (age 22)	5	0	PAS Giannina	v.   Switzerland, 8 September 2025
DF	Gabriel Ramaj	(2006-02-09) 9 February 2006 (age 20)	10	0	Atalanta U20	v.  Uzbekistan, 30 March 2026INJ
DF	Diar Vokrri	(2004-06-27) 27 June 2004 (age 22)	2	0	Ballkani	v.  Uzbekistan, 30 March 2026
DF	Ermis Selimaj	(2004-05-25) 25 May 2004 (age 22)	15	0	PAS Giannina	v.  Ukraine, 17 November 2025
MF	Ergis Arifi	(2007-01-11) 11 January 2007 (age 19)	1	0	Teuta	v.  Uzbekistan, 30 March 2026
MF	Gjergji Kote	(2004-08-20) 20 August 2004 (age 21)	5	1	Partizani	v.  Ukraine, 17 November 2025
MF	Ledjo Tresa	(2005-07-25) 25 July 2005 (age 20)	3	0	Laçi	v.  San Marino, 10 October 2025
MF	Luan Simnica	(2004-01-22) 22 January 2004 (age 22)	3	0	Erzgebirge Aue	v.   Switzerland, 8 September 2025
MF	Gent Elezaj	(2005-04-11) 11 April 2005 (age 21)	3	0	Landskrona	v.   Switzerland, 8 September 2025
MF	Dion Ajvazi	(2004-02-10) 10 February 2004 (age 22)	6	0	Hertha BSC II	v.  Turkey, 8 June 2025
FW	Ermir Rashica	(2004-03-24) 24 March 2004 (age 22)	14	4	Metalist 1925 Kharkiv	v.  Uzbekistan, 30 March 2026INJ
FW	Eron Gojani	(2006-12-02) 2 December 2006 (age 19)	1	0	HamKam	v.  Uzbekistan, 30 March 2026
FW	Besar Guxhufi	(2004-05-29) 29 May 2004 (age 22)	4	0	Partizani	v.  Ukraine, 17 November 2025
Notes INJ = The player is not part of the current squad due to injury.

Balkan Youth Championship record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1976–1978	Champions	1st	6	3	2	1	12	6
1981	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	6	2
Total	2 Titles	2/2	8	5	2	1	18	8

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty shoot-out.

**Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won.