Details Of The New UEFA Europa Conference League Confirmed - 184 Teams To Participate, Trophy Launched

OFFICIAL

May 25, 2021

by Khoi

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Participation: The inaugural Europa Conference League will include 184 teams from all UEFA member associations, with a format designed for greater inclusion.
Qualification: Teams will go through qualifying rounds and a play-off, with those from the top 5 associations entering directly into the play-off round.
Tournament Structure: After qualification, 32 teams will be divided into groups, followed by knock-out stages with the final being held in Tirana, Albania.

UEFA has released the format of the new Europa Conference League, aiming for more inclusion of association members.

All-New UEFA Europa Conference League Logo Revealed

May 9, 2021

Europa Conference League 2021-22 Format

For the inaugural season of the UEFA's third continental football competition, a total of 184 teams from all members of the association will be able to compete.

This consists of at least one team from each association while 46 other clubs will come from either the Champions League or Europa League.

All teams will have to go through the qualifying rounds and a play-off. Those playing in the top 5 associations (Spain, England, Germany, Italy and France) will go straight to the play-off round instead.

By the group stage, there will be 32 teams left, which will be divided into eight groups of four clubs. Of the 32 clubs:

17 come from the UEFA Europa Conference League main path
5 come from the UEFA Europa Conference League champions path
10 eliminated in the UEFA Europa League play-offs

The format will then follow the similar route of Europa League and Champions League: knock-outs, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. Albania's capital Tirana will host the final of the 2021-22 Conference League at the National Arena (Arena Kombëtare).

The winner will secure a place in the group stage of following season's UEFA Europa League unless they have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their domestic competition.

UEFA Conference League Trophy

UEFA's President Aleksander Čeferin speaks about the new competition: "We want to make our competitions more inclusive – to give clubs and fans the chance to dream and compete for European honours."

"We have 55 national associations who make up UEFA, and it is important to give clubs from as many federations as possible the chance to prolong their European campaigns for as long as possible.