The UEFA Europa Conference League will kick-off for the 2021/22 campaign. After repeated discussions since 2015, UEFA has finally decided to go ahead with a third-tier tournament, providing a chance to clubs from lower-ranked UEFA member countries a chance of progressing to the later stages as they are usually shown the exit door early in the higher competitions.
WHAT IS THE UEFA EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE? WHEN DOES IT START? WHO WILL PLAY?
After being approved by the UEFA Executive Committee in December 2018, the UEFA Europa Conference League will be the third UEFA club competition and is set to get underway in 2021/22 and run throughout the 2021-2024 cycle at least.
There will be 32 group stage entrants for the third-tier competition. Who will be involved and how?
17 clubs from the UEFA Conference League’s main path.
Five clubs from the UEFA Europa Conference League champions path.
Ten clubs eliminated in the UEFA Europa League play-offs.
Similar to the higher tiers, there will be eight groups of four teams. But then there is a slight change as there will be an additional knockout round play-off before the round of 16 between eight group runners-up and the third-ranked teams of the UEFA Europa League groups.
The introduction of the UEFA Conference League will have no impact on the UEFA Champions League. However, the UEFA Europa League will be reduced from 48 to 32 teams.
The UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League fixtures will both take place on Thursdays.
WHAT DO THE WINNERS GET?
The winner of the new competition will be entitled to enter the following season's UEFA Europe League group stage.
With another competition being added which will feature 141 more matches. Football fan’s schedules just got a whole lot busier.
All you need to know about UEFA Europa Conference League
