UEFA Europa League
Region: Europe
Teams: 48
Founded: 1971
The recently rebranded UEFA Europa League is the second most important and popular club football event held under the auspices of the Union of European Football Associations. Originally intended as a knockout competition for domestic cup champions, the Europa League has evolved into a European league championship for the top clubs from smaller football-playing nations.
Europe League qualification
Qualification takes place in July and August each year with berths allocated as follows:
- Associations ranked 7-9 by UEFA will send the cup winner, plus three other clubs, to contest the qualifying rounds
- Most other nations will be given the nod to send two additional teams plus the cup winner whereas
- Lichtenstein, Andorra and San Marino will only be permitted to send the one representative, the cup winner
- Three places, in the first of four qualifying rounds, will be allocated to the Fair Play winners, teams selected for good behaviour, positive play, respect of both opposition and referees as well as a relative dearth of cards or bookings
- Other teams, that will make up the numbers, are generally the clubs highest on their domestic league pecking order after those that have qualified for the Champions League, however
- 15 losing teams from the UEFA Champions League qualifying round 2 will enter the 4th and final qualification round whereas
Winners of the qualification rounds will join the 10 losers from the Champions League qualification round 3 and will go directly to the group stage made up of 12 groups of four teams. The 12 winners and 12 runners-up in the group stage will progress to the 1st knock-out round and will combine with eight 3rd placed teams from the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Following the Winter break, the remaining clubs contest the knockout phase of the Europa League, consisting of two-legged ties leading to a one-off final, contested on neutral ground.