NYON, Switzerland — The European Under-21 Championship for 2027 will be jointly hosted by Albania and Serbia, a decision that could potentially alleviate some of the ongoing political strains between the two countries.

On Tuesday, UEFA officially announced that the tournament would take place across the borders of these neighboring Balkan nations.

The relationship between Albania and Serbia has been historically fraught, particularly due to the conflicts in the Balkans during the 1990s. The situation has become even more sensitive since 2008 when Kosovo, a former province of Serbia populated mostly by ethnic Albanians, declared its independence. This declaration has not been accepted by Serbia, which continues to view Kosovo as a pivotal part of its national identity.

Both nations have encountered repercussions from UEFA for incidents that have arisen from politically charged fan behavior in the past. Notably, a controversial drone incident during a match in 2014 escalated into violent clashes between players and supporters.

In spite of these difficulties, the football associations of Albania and Serbia came together last year to coordinate the upcoming U21 Euro Championships. The tournament features 16 teams and takes place biennially, requiring a minimum of eight stadiums to accommodate a total of 31 matches.

According to UEFA, the tournament will kick off with the opening match hosted in Serbia, while Albania will stage the final.