The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Sports›Soccer›UEFA Conference League
Sports • Soccer

UEFA Conference League

The UEFA Conference League is UEFA’s annual third-tier men’s club football competition in Europe, introduced in 2021.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The UEFA Conference League is UEFA’s annual third-tier men’s club football competition in Europe, introduced in 2021. It sits below the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League and is contested by eligible clubs from UEFA member associations. The competition was renamed from the UEFA Europa Conference League to UEFA Conference League from the 2024–25 season onward.

History

UEFA introduced the competition in 2021 to create a third continental club tournament below the Champions League and Europa League. It was initially called the UEFA Europa Conference League and later shortened to UEFA Conference League.

Format

The modern format uses a 36-team league phase. Clubs play six matches against six different opponents, and the standings determine direct qualification to the round of 16, entry into play-offs, or elimination. Each team in the league phase plays six different opponents, three at home and three away. The top eight teams in the league phase advance directly to the round of 16. Teams placed 9th to 24th enter knockout phase play-offs for the remaining round-of-16 places.

Qualification

Clubs qualify through their domestic league positions and cup results, with additional places assigned through UEFA’s access list and, in some cases, transfers from other UEFA competitions.

Final and prize

The competition ends with a single-match final at a neutral venue. The champion receives the title and a place in the following season’s UEFA Europa League, subject to other qualification routes. The winner qualifies for the following season’s UEFA Europa League, unless already qualified for the UEFA Champions League.

Key facts

  • It is UEFA’s third-tier men’s club competition in Europe.
  • The tournament began in the 2021–22 season.
  • From 2024–25, the competition has used a 36-team league phase rather than the older group-stage format.
  • The top eight teams in the league phase advance directly to the round of 16.
  • The winner qualifies for the following season’s UEFA Europa League, unless already qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
🍁
Canadian context

Canadian clubs are generally eligible only through CONCACAF competition pathways rather than UEFA, so the tournament has little direct Canadian participation. Canadian readers may encounter it mainly through international club football coverage and European broadcasting.

Frequently asked questions

What is UEFA Conference League?
It is UEFA’s annual third-tier men’s club football competition in Europe, below the Champions League and Europa League.
Conference League standings?
The standings are the league-phase table that ranks the 36 clubs by points and tie-break criteria. The top eight advance directly to the round of 16, while 9th to 24th enter knockout phase play-offs.
Conference League winners?
The winners are the clubs that win the season-ending final. The champion qualifies for the following UEFA Europa League season, unless already in the UEFA Champions League.
Conference League schedule?
The competition is played in a season-long format, with qualifying before the league phase and knockout rounds after that. UEFA has stated that Conference League matches are generally played on Thursdays.
Conference League teams?
Teams are eligible European club sides that qualify through domestic leagues, domestic cups, or via UEFA competition pathways. In the current format, 36 teams participate in the league phase.
How does Conference League work?
Clubs first go through qualifying, then a 36-team league phase. Each team plays six different opponents; the top eight reach the round of 16, 9th to 24th enter play-offs, and the rest are eliminated.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Conference_League
    Supports: General overview; competition level; 2021 launch; modern league-phase and knockout structure; top eight and 9th–24th advancement.
  2. UEFA — https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/news/0264-10fe90612aa3-37b2bc77f89e-1000--uefa-europa-conference-league-what-is-it-how-does-it-work-w/
    Supports: Official explanation of the competition; qualifiers; league phase; knockout round play-offs; scheduling on Thursdays.
  3. The Athletic — https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2052046/2020/09/10/what-is-uefa-conference-league-how-qualify/
    Supports: Qualification route and relationship to other UEFA competitions.
  4. Crystal Palace FC — https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/information/crystal-palace-the-uefa-conference-league-explained/
    Supports: Competition tier, Thursday scheduling, and Europa League qualification for winners.
  5. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Conference_League
    Supports: Basic description of the competition and its place in European club football.