England’s UEFA Under-21 European Championship Final against Spain will be shown live on Channel 4 after the broadcaster secures a last-minute deal to air the highly anticipated match free-to-air in the UK.

The Young Lions will head into the final looking to make history as they attempt to win the Under-21 European Championship for the first time since 1984. England will face a strong Spain side in the final, with both teams arriving in impressive form after dominant performances throughout the tournament.

Until now, coverage of the tournament will only have been available online through UEFA’s streaming platform, UEFA.tv, after no UK broadcaster secured rights for the earlier stages of the competition. However, Channel 4 will step in ahead of the final to bring the match to a wider television audience across the UK.

England’s Under-21 side, managed by Lee Carsley, will go into the match unbeaten and without conceding a single goal during the tournament. Victories over the Czech Republic, Israel, Germany and Portugal will have helped establish England as one of the standout teams of the competition.

Spain, meanwhile, will arrive in the final aiming to add another title to their already impressive Under-21 European Championship record. La Rojita will once again be among the tournament favourites, with a squad packed with talented young players from some of Spain’s top clubs.

Channel 4’s coverage will begin shortly before kick-off, with presenter Jules Breach expected to host the live broadcast. Commentary will come from Steve Bower as viewers across the UK tune in to watch England attempt to end their long wait for Under-21 European Championship success.

The decision to show the final live on free-to-air television will likely be welcomed by football fans, especially after criticism that the tournament initially lacked mainstream UK television coverage. Many supporters on social media will praise Channel 4 for ensuring the final can be viewed by a much larger audience.

The match will also form part of a busy sporting weekend for Channel 4, with the broadcaster continuing its Formula 1 coverage from the British Grand Prix alongside the football final.

England’s squad will include several players already familiar to Premier League fans, with names such as Anthony Gordon, Morgan Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer and Emile Smith Rowe expected to feature prominently. The tournament will provide another opportunity for these young players to showcase their talent on a major stage before potentially progressing into the senior England setup.

With England and Spain both regarded as two of Europe’s strongest footballing nations at youth level, the final will be expected to attract significant attention from football fans across the UK and Europe.

The UEFA Under-21 European Championship Final between England and Spain will kick off at 5pm UK time and will be shown live on Channel 4 and streamed online via Channel 4’s digital platforms.