Hierarchy and history of European competitions
In European club football, there is a clear hierarchy of competitions, with the UEFA Champions League being the most important and prestigious. The UEFA Europa League holds the second spot in this ranking, while the UEFA Conference League serves as the third and youngest tier.
It is worth noting that the current format has evolved significantly over the years. In the past, clubs competed in different tournaments, which included the European Cup (the predecessor to the Champions League), the European Cup Winners' Cup (which brought together domestic cup champions), and the UEFA Cup (which later transformed into the Europa League).
Tournament overview
Champions League
A total of 36 teams advance to the league phase of this premier competition. Direct qualification is granted to 29 teams, while the remaining spots are filled through the qualifiers—5 teams from the Champions Path and 2 teams from the League Path.
Securing a spot in this elite tournament can be achieved in several ways. The most common route is winning a domestic league title or finishing high enough in the league standings within the strongest European associations. Additionally, automatic qualification is awarded to the winners of the previous season's Champions League or Europa League, while teams from lower-ranked leagues must successfully navigate multiple qualifying rounds.
Europa League
The Europa League phase also features 36 competing teams. Direct qualification is awarded to 13 teams, another 12 secure their spots through the qualifiers, and the lineup is completed by 11 teams transferring over after elimination from the Champions League qualifiers (specifically from the play-offs and the third qualifying round of the League Path).
The primary paths to this competition are winning a domestic cup or securing a high finish in the national league standings. Clubs can also reach this stage by successfully fighting through the qualification rounds or as a result of being eliminated at a specific stage of the Champions League qualifiers.
Conference League
The league phase of this youngest competition similarly consists of 36 teams, but in this case, all 36 teams must earn their place through the qualifiers. It is worth noting that a portion of the participants enter this tournament only after being eliminated from the Europa League qualifiers, while teams from the top-ranked associations start their journey directly in the play-off round.
Entry into the Conference League can be earned via a high league finish or by winning a domestic cup, which applies mostly to the lower-ranked associations. The final paths include successfully advancing through the qualification rounds or transferring down after elimination from the Europa League or Champions League qualifiers.
Learn more: