UEFA Conference League 2025/2026 Season: Format, Fixtures, and What Fans Need to Know
A New Era for European Football’s Third Tier
The UEFA Conference League 2025/2026 season has officially kicked off, marking the competition’s fifth edition and the second year of its innovative league-phase format. As Europe’s tertiary club football tournament, the Conference League continues to carve out a unique space in the continental football landscape, offering clubs from across the continent a chance to shine on the European stage and fans the opportunity to witness matchups rarely seen in other competitions.
Swiss System Returns: How the New Format Works
This season, the Conference League maintains the “Swiss system” league phase, which replaced the traditional group stages in 2024/25. Instead of small groups, all 36 qualified teams are placed into a single league table. Each club plays six matches against different opponents—no return legs—ensuring a diverse slate of fixtures and more unpredictability throughout the competition.
The top eight teams at the end of the league phase advance directly to the Round of 16. Clubs finishing 9th to 24th enter a playoff round for a chance to join them, while those ranked below 24th are eliminated from European play for the season. This structure raises the stakes for every match, as a single result can dramatically alter a team’s prospects.
Key Dates and Draws: The Road to Leipzig
The journey began with the first qualifying round draw on June 17, 2025, in Nyon, Switzerland, followed by the second qualifying round draw on June 18. The qualifying rounds are played over two legs, with fixtures scheduled throughout July and August:
- First qualifying round: July 10 & 17, 2025
- Second qualifying round: July 24 & 31, 2025
- Third qualifying round: August 7 & 14, 2025
- Play-off round: August 21 & 28, 2025
The league-phase draw, which determines the full slate of fixtures, is set for August 29, 2025, in Monaco. The league phase itself begins on October 2, 2025, with subsequent matchdays running through December.
The season culminates in the final at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, on May 27, 2026. This will be the first time the 47,000-seat venue hosts a major UEFA final, adding to its legacy after staging matches in UEFA EURO 2024 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Qualification Pathways: Who Gets In?
The 36-team league phase is filled via a combination of qualifying rounds and teams dropping down from the UEFA Europa League play-off round:
- 5 clubs qualify through the Champions Path play-off round
- 19 clubs qualify via the Main Path play-offs
- 12 clubs drop in from the Europa League play-off stage
UEFA’s country coefficient system determines how many teams each association can enter:
- Top 12 associations (including England, Spain, Germany, and Italy) each send one club
- Associations ranked 13–33 send two clubs each
- Associations ranked 34–50 send three clubs each (except Liechtenstein, which enters only its cup winner)
This system ensures representation from up to 38 UEFA nations, making the Conference League the most diverse of Europe’s club competitions.
Notable Teams and Stories to Watch
Several established clubs and new challengers are set to feature in the 2025/26 campaign. The play-off round includes teams such as Rayo Vallecano (Spain), Mainz (Germany), Nottingham Forest (England), Fiorentina (Italy), and Strasbourg (France). Newcastle United, as EFL Cup winners, have also secured a place in the play-off round, though their final European destination could change depending on domestic league results.
A notable storyline is the exclusion of Drogheda United FC, which allowed Shamrock Rovers FC and FC Dinamo City to advance directly to the second qualifying round. The shifting fortunes of clubs like Nottingham Forest—who narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification—underscore the high stakes and unpredictability of European football.
Economic Impact: Boosting Clubs and Host Cities
The Conference League provides a vital financial and reputational boost for participating clubs, especially those from smaller associations. European competition brings increased matchday revenue, higher broadcast rights income, and greater exposure for club sponsors. For many clubs, even a single run in the league phase can transform their budgets and raise their profiles domestically and abroad.
For host cities, the influx of traveling fans and media attention translates into tangible economic benefits. Leipzig, as the 2026 final host, expects a significant uptick in tourism and international visibility, building on its successful hosting of major tournaments in recent years.
Historical Context: The Growth of UEFA’s Third Competition
The UEFA Conference League was introduced in 2021 to provide more clubs across Europe with access to continental competition. Its creation addressed concerns that the Champions League and Europa League had become too exclusive, limiting opportunities for clubs from lower-ranked associations to compete on a bigger stage.
The league’s first four seasons have seen a mix of established clubs and surprise packages making deep runs, with the new Swiss system format introduced in 2024/25 further democratizing the competition. The rule that Conference League winners cannot defend their title—since they automatically qualify for the Europa League—ensures a fresh champion every year and keeps the tournament dynamic.
Regional Comparisons: How the Conference League Stands Out
Compared to the Champions League and Europa League, the Conference League offers a broader geographic spread of participants, with clubs from smaller footballing nations regularly reaching the league phase. This diversity is reflected in the competition’s matchups, which often feature teams and venues unfamiliar to mainstream European audiences.
While the Champions League remains the pinnacle of club football in terms of prestige and financial rewards, the Conference League’s format and accessibility have made it a favorite among fans who appreciate the underdog stories and the chance to see new football cultures on display.
Fan Engagement: Following the Action
Supporters can track live scores, fixtures, and betting odds on platforms such as Flashscore and Odds Portal, ensuring they remain up to date with every twist and turn of the competition. The Conference League’s unpredictable nature and varied matchups have driven strong engagement across digital platforms, with fans eager to see which clubs will emerge as the season’s breakout stars.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Leipzig
As the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League unfolds, anticipation builds toward the final in Leipzig. The new format’s emphasis on variety and high stakes promises another season of drama, upsets, and memorable moments. For clubs, fans, and host cities alike, the Conference League continues to deliver on its promise of expanding the horizons of European football.