The Conference League is a European club football competition for teams that qualify through domestic leagues and cups or continental qualifying rounds. The league phase contains 36 clubs in one table. Each club plays six matches against different opponents, three at home and three away. The top eight advance directly to the round of 16, clubs placed ninth to 24th enter a knockout play-off, and the remaining teams are eliminated. Two-legged ties then lead to a single final at a stadium selected in advance.
The competition was created as the third level of European club football, giving more associations and clubs a realistic route to a long international campaign and a trophy. Its early winners include Roma, West Ham United, Olympiacos, Chelsea and Crystal Palace, while Fiorentina has stood out through multiple final appearances. It also brings together clubs from different football environments in fixtures that domestic calendars cannot provide.
The schedule can be followed through qualifying, the league phase and the knockout rounds. A win is worth three points, a draw one and a defeat none, while criteria such as goal difference and goals scored further determine the ranking. Positions one to eight mean direct qualification, ninth to 24th lead to the play-offs, and lower places end a club's campaign. In the knockout phase, the aggregate score across two matches matters, except in the final.
Qualifying begins during the summer, the league phase runs through autumn and early winter, and the closing rounds take place from late winter to the end of spring. Most fixtures are played on Thursdays, although calendar or security considerations can create exceptions. Matches are staged at club grounds across Europe, with the final on neutral territory. When buying tickets through partner links, visitors should check the date, stadium, section, away-supporter rules, possible personalisation and the conditions for mobile or printed tickets.
The Conference League is known for varied playing styles, extensive travel and meetings between clubs that rarely face one another. The strongest tension usually comes from knockout ties involving traditional clubs, geographically close pairings and matches in which a smaller club hosts a better-known opponent. The atmosphere is often shaped by full compact stadiums, organised away sections, choreographed displays and a strong local bond between supporters and their club.