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UEFA Europa League

The UEFA Europa League is an annual European club football competition organised by UEFA.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The UEFA Europa League is an annual European club football competition organised by UEFA. It is the second-tier men’s club competition in Europe, ranking below the UEFA Champions League and above the UEFA Conference League. The tournament was established in 1971 as the UEFA Cup and was renamed the UEFA Europa League in 2009.

Overview

The UEFA Europa League is UEFA's second-tier club competition for European teams. It was created in 1971 as the UEFA Cup and later rebranded as the Europa League. The tournament is open to eligible European clubs that qualify through domestic league and cup performance, with some teams entering from Champions League qualifying rounds.

Format

The modern competition begins with qualifying rounds, then a 36-team league phase. Since the 2024–25 season, the main competition has used a 36-team league phase in place of the old 32-team group stage. Each team in the league phase plays eight matches, with four at home and four away. The knockout stage leads to a single-match final at a neutral venue.

Qualification and participants

Clubs enter based on domestic league and cup results, while some are transferred from Champions League qualifying or play-off rounds. The number of entrants varies by season and association access list. The Europa League is the second-tier European club tournament, below the UEFA Champions League.

History

The competition began in 1971 under the UEFA Cup name. It was renamed the UEFA Europa League in 2009 and has since undergone format changes, including the switch to a league phase in 2024–25.

Key facts

  • The Europa League is UEFA's annual club competition for eligible European teams.
  • It is the second-tier European club tournament, below the UEFA Champions League.
  • Teams qualify through domestic league and cup performance, with some clubs entering from Champions League qualifying rounds.
  • Since the 2024–25 season, the main competition has used a 36-team league phase in place of the old 32-team group stage.
  • The knockout stage leads to a single-match final at a neutral venue.
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Canadian context

Canadian clubs do not normally compete in the UEFA Europa League, because the tournament is for UEFA-affiliated European teams. Canadian readers may encounter it mainly through international football coverage and as a comparison point with North American club competitions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Europa League?
The UEFA Europa League is UEFA's annual European club football competition for teams that qualify through domestic and continental performance. It is the second-tier men’s club tournament in Europe.
How does the Europa League work?
Teams qualify through domestic results and qualifying rounds, then play a 36-team league phase. The top teams advance to knockout rounds, ending with a single-match final.
Who won the Europa League?
The 2025–26 UEFA Europa League was won by Aston Villa, who beat SC Freiburg 3–0 in the final in Istanbul.
When does the Europa League start?
The start date changes each season. For 2026–27, the competition kicks off on 9 July 2026.
How many teams are in the Europa League?
The main competition currently has 36 teams in the league phase, although more clubs participate in qualifying rounds.
What is the difference between Champions League and Europa League?
The Champions League is UEFA's top-tier club competition, while the Europa League is the second tier below it. The Champions League generally features the highest-ranked clubs, while the Europa League includes clubs qualifying through league, cup, and transfer pathways.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Europa_League
    Supports: Founding year, current name, competition level, and league-phase format.
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Europa_League
    Supports: General overview of qualification and competition structure.
  3. UEFA — https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0290-1bae1122a934-3dd5eac88cff-1000--2024-25-europa-league-all-you-need-to-know-teams-format-da/
    Supports: 2024–25 format change, 36-team league phase, eight matches per team, and season dates.
  4. UEFA — https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/02a6-20d57d095740-e1e0b3de85df-1000--2026-27-europa-league-teams-dates-draws-format-final/
    Supports: 2026–27 start date, season structure, and final date.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_UEFA_Europa_League
    Supports: 2025–26 winner and final result.