The UEFA Conference League will culminate in a final showdown between Chelsea and Real Betis. Entering its fifth edition in the 2025–2026 season, the Conference League is UEFA’s third-tier club competition in Europe.
For the second time, the 36-team league phase format will be used in the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League season. However, the reigning champions cannot defend their title, as the winners of the Conference League earn automatic qualification to the Europa League league phase.
UEFA Conference League: The revamped format also eliminates the possibility of teams dropping from the Europa League league or knockout stages into the Conference League knockout rounds. Teams finishing below 24th place in the Europa League are directly eliminated from European competition.
The final will take place at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, which seats 47,000 spectators. This stadium previously hosted four matches during UEFA EURO 2024—including the exciting 1-1 Group B draw between Italy and Croatia—and was a venue for five matches during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The Conference League champions will gain automatic entry into the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League league phase, unless they qualify for the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League through their domestic league performance, in which case the access list will be adjusted accordingly.
UEFA Conference League: Following their defeat to Chelsea on the final matchday of the 2024–25 Premier League season, Nottingham Forest secured a spot in the Conference League for next season. Despite being in contention for Champions League qualification until the last day, they finished seventh, just one point shy of fifth place. UEFA Conference League, Unlike previous seasons, the Conference League did not accept the eighth-placed team this time, as Brighton’s 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur secured that position.
UEFA Conference League 2025-26: Playoff round
- England (1): Nottingham Forest
- LaLiga (1): Rayo Vallecano
- Serie A (1): Fiorentina
- Germany (1): Mainz 05
- France (1): Strasbourg
UEFA Conference League 2025-26: Qualifying rounds, main path
Second qualifying round
- Netherlands (1 team): AZ Alkmaar
- Portugal (1): Santa Clara
- Belgium (1):
- Turkiye (1): Istanbul Basaksehir
- Czechia (1): Sparta Praha
- Scotland (1): Dundee United
- Switzerland (1):
- Austria (2): Austria Wien
- Norway (2): Viking, Rosenborg
- Greece (2): AEK Athens, Aris Thessaloniki
- Denmark (2):
- Israel (2): Maccabi Haifa
- Ukraine (2): Oleksandriya, Zhytomyr
- Serbia (2): Novi Pazar, Radnicki 1923
- Croatia (2): Hajduk Split
- Poland (2): Rakow Czestochowa, Jagiellonia Bialystok
- Cyprus (2): Aris Limassol, Omonoia Nicosia
- Hungary (2): Puskas Akademia, Gyor
- Sweden (2): AIK Solna
- Romania (2): Universitatea Cluj, CS Universitatea Craiova
- Bulgaria (2):
- Azerbaijan (2): Araz
- Slovakia (2): Zilina, DAC Dunajska Streda
- Slovenia (1): Maribor
- Moldova (1): Zimbru Chisinau
- Kosovo (1): Ballkani
- Kazakhstan (1): Astana
- Ireland (1): Drogheda United
- Armenia (1):
- Latvia (1): Riga FC
- Faroe Islands (1): HB Torshavn
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (1): FK Sarajevo
- Liechtenstein (1): Vaduz
- Iceland (1): KA Akureyri
- Northern Ireland (1): Dungannon Swifts
- Luxembourg (1):
- Lithuania (1): Banga
- Malta (1): Hibernians
- Georgia (1): Spaeri
- First qualifying round
- Slovenia (1): Koper
- Moldova (1): Petrocub
- Kosovo (1): Malisheva
- Kazakhstan (1): Ordabasy Shymkent
- Finland (2): HJK Helsinki, SJK Seinajoki
- Ireland (2): Shamrock Rovers, St. Patrick’s Athletic
- Armenia (2): Pyunik
- Latvia (2): Auda, BFC Daugavpils
- Faroe Islands (2): KI Klaksvik, NSI Runavik
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (2): Borac Banja Luka,Zeljeznicar
- Iceland (2): Vikingur Reykjavik, Valur Reykjavik
- Northern Ireland (2): Larne, Cliftonville
- Luxembourg (2): Racing Luxembourg
- Lithuania (2): Hegelmann, Kauno Zalgiris
- Malta (2): Birkirkara, Floriana
- Georgia (2): Torpedo Kutaisi, Dila Gori
- Albania (3): Dinamo Tirana, Vllaznia, Partizani Tirana
- Estonia (3): Nomme Kalju, Paide Linnameeskond, Flora
- Belarus (3): Neman Grodno, Torpedo Zhodino, Dynamo Brest
- North Macedonia (3): Vardar Skopje, Sileks, Rabotnicki
- Andorra (2): Atletic Club d’Escaldes, FC Santa Coloma
- Wales (2): Penybont, Haverfordwest County
- Montenegro (2): Sutjeska
- Gibraltar (2): Magpies, St. Joseph’s
- San Marino (2): La Fiorita, Tre Fiori
