The UEFA Conference League is UEFA’s third-tier European club competition, sitting below the Champions League and Europa League in the hierarchy of continental tournaments. It was launched in 2021–22 (originally as the UEFA Europa Conference League) to give more clubs from smaller and mid‑level leagues a chance to play in Europe and was rebranded “UEFA Conference League” from the 2024–25 season.

What is the UEFA Conference League?

  • It is a season‑long European competition for club teams, organized by UEFA, ranked below the Europa League and Champions League.
  • It was introduced so that more national associations are represented in European competitions and more clubs gain international experience.
  • The winner qualifies for the next season’s UEFA Europa League league phase, unless they already reach the Champions League through their domestic league finish.

In simple terms: think of it as Europe’s “third division” of continental football, designed to widen the European stage beyond the usual big‑league clubs.

How the competition works (format)

The exact format has evolved slightly, but the core idea remains: qualifying rounds, a main league/group phase, then knockouts leading to the final.

1. Qualifying phase

  • Clubs qualify mainly through their domestic league position or national cup wins, usually those finishing just below the Europa League spots.
  • Several qualifying rounds are played over two legs (home and away) in summer to reduce the number of teams.
  • Some teams that are eliminated from Champions League or Europa League qualifying can “drop down” into the Conference League qualifying path.

2. League / group phase

There have been two main eras:

  • Original system (2021–22 to 2023–24) :
    • 32 teams split into eight groups of four.
* Each team played home‑and‑away matches within the group.

* Group winners went straight to the round of 16; runners‑up went into a play‑off against Europa League third‑placed sides.
  • New “league phase” (from 2024–25) :
    • Renamed “UEFA Conference League” and expanded to a 36‑team league table instead of classic groups.
* Each team plays a set number of games against different opponents (e.g., eight matches, four home and four away), with a single overall table.

* The top eight teams go directly to the round of 16, while teams in the next band (for example 9th–24th) enter play‑off knockouts to join them.

3. Knockout phase

  • After the league/group phase, there are:
    • Knockout play‑offs,
    • Round of 16,
    • Quarter‑finals,
    • Semi‑finals,
    • One‑off final at a neutral venue.
  • Most knockout rounds are two‑legged (home and away), with the final as a single match.

Why UEFA created it

UEFA’s aim was to broaden access to European football and increase participation from smaller leagues.

Key reasons:

  • More national associations represented: UEFA’s structure aims for at least 34 associations to have clubs in the group/league stages of one of the three competitions.
  • Opportunities for smaller clubs: Clubs from countries that rarely reach Europa League or Champions League groups get more realistic chances to play European matches, gain prize money, and attract players.
  • Clear three‑tier system:
    • Top: Champions League.
    • Middle: Europa League.
    • Third tier: Conference League.

An example: a club finishing, say, 4th or 5th in a mid‑ranked league might now get Conference League qualification instead of no European football at all.

Recent champions and prestige

  • The inaugural winners were Roma , who beat Feyenoord 1–0 in the 2022 final.
  • Over the first seasons, English clubs have been particularly successful, with Chelsea the 2025 champions against Real Betis.
  • Winning the tournament gives both a European trophy and a direct path into the next season’s Europa League, adding sporting and financial incentive.

While it is less prestigious than the Champions League or Europa League, it has quickly become an important platform for ambitious clubs outside the traditional elite.

“Quick Scoop” style TL;DR

  • The UEFA Conference League is UEFA’s third‑tier European club competition, below UCL and UEL.
  • Created in 2021–22 to give more leagues and clubs European football.
  • Involves qualifying rounds, then a league/group phase, followed by knockouts and a one‑match final.
  • Winner gets a spot in next season’s Europa League league phase (unless already in the Champions League).
  • Recently rebranded and reformatted into a 36‑team league phase, aligning with changes in the UCL and UEL.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.