UEFA Europa Conference League 

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Latest news on the UEFA Conference League, with fixtures, results, draws, qualifying rounds, knockout ties and the final of Europe's third-tier club competition.

The UEFA Conference League is the third tier of European club football, sitting below the Champions League and the Europa League. Launched in 2021 as the UEFA Europa Conference League, it adopted its current name in 2024. The competition was created to give clubs from more of UEFA's 55 member associations a route into continental football.

The format features a 36-team league phase followed by a knockout stage, with ties played over two legs and a one-off final at a neutral venue. Qualification begins in midsummer, with clubs from smaller associations entering through several qualifying rounds. The winners earn automatic entry to the following season's Europa League league phase, a prize that can transform a club's fortunes.

The trophy has already produced memorable stories. Roma won the inaugural final in 2022, followed by West Ham United in 2023, Olympiakos in 2024, Chelsea in 2025 and Crystal Palace in 2026, the south London club's first major European honour. Fiorentina became the first side to reach and lose two finals, while Rayo Vallecano's run to the 2026 showpiece captured imaginations across Spain.

Beyond the silverware, the competition has given fans of clubs from Albania to Kazakhstan the chance to see their teams test themselves against continental opposition. Long away trips, packed provincial grounds and famous upsets have become part of its identity, bringing European nights to cities rarely visited by the elite tournaments.

The competition has not been without debate. Critics initially questioned whether a third tier would dilute European football, while defenders point to fuller fixture lists for mid-ranking nations and the springboard it offers ambitious clubs. Multi-club ownership rules and coefficient-based access lists have also shaped which teams take part, occasionally producing contentious qualification decisions.

Our NewsNow feed on the UEFA Conference League is updated around the clock with headlines from trusted sources worldwide, covering every draw, qualifier, league phase fixture and knockout tie. Whether you follow a continental heavyweight or a first-time qualifier, this feed keeps you informed on the competition from the opening rounds to the final.