About the UECL
The UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) is an annual international sports competition between football clubs belonging to the UEFA European Football Association (UEFA). This event is the third in level and importance after the Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Clubs qualify for the Conference League on the basis of their results in national leagues and cup competitions. A total of 170 teams from the 55 UEFA member associations participate in the competition. Some of these clubs have qualified for the Conference League from the Champions League and the Europa League. The winner receives an opportunity to qualify for the group stage of the next UEFA Europa League season.
The most titled club Conference League is FC Roma (Italy).
Conference League matches are played weekly on Thursdays.
UEFA Conference League 2026/27
The 2026/27 UEFA Conference League season kicked off on 9 July 2026 with the first qualifying round and will conclude with the final on 26 May 2027.
The final will be held in Istanbul, Türkiye, at Beşiktaş Stadium (Tüpraş Stadyumu). This is the sixth edition of the UEFA Conference League and the third season played under the new format featuring a single league phase with 36 teams.
Participants and Favorites
A total of 36 clubs will compete in the league phase after advancing through the qualification rounds. As usual, the tournament will feature clubs from Europe's top domestic leagues, along with teams from Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Serbia, and many other countries.
Following Crystal Palace's successful European debut and Conference League triumph last season, the race for the trophy is once again expected to be highly competitive. The Conference League remains a tournament where ambitious clubs have a genuine opportunity to win their first major European title.
The league phase begins in October 2026, followed by the knockout phase and the final. The tournament winner will qualify automatically for the 2027/28 UEFA Europa League.
History of the Competition
The idea of creating a third-tier European club competition was introduced by UEFA to give more clubs the opportunity to compete regularly in European football.
In 2018, UEFA announced the creation of a new competition under the working title Europa League 2. In September 2019, the tournament officially received its current name, the UEFA Conference League.
The inaugural edition took place during the 2021/22 season. Since the 2024/25 season, the Conference League—along with UEFA's other club competitions—has been played under the new format featuring a 36-team league phase, replacing the traditional group stage.
The tournament winner earns a place in the UEFA Europa League for the following season.
Results of Previous Seasons
| Season | Final Venue | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | RB Arena, Leipzig (Germany) | Crystal Palace |
| 2024/25 | Wrocław Stadium, Wrocław (Poland) | Chelsea |
| 2023/24 | OPAP Arena, Athens (Greece) | Olympiacos |
| 2022/23 | Fortuna Arena, Prague (Czech Republic) | West Ham United |
2027-28 UECL
At the moment, the dates for the next UEFA Conference League championship are not yet known.
Keep an eye on the dates of football matches and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.
