Is the Conference League a major trophy?
- Published
The Conference League has been deemed a major competition by Uefa since its introduction at the start of the 2021-22 season.
When it was brought in, Europe's third-tier club tournament led to a reduction in teams in the Europa League, and was designed to favour qualification for sides from lower-ranked European nations.
Jose Mourinho's Roma won the competition in its first season, and their first major European trophy led the Portuguese to declare: "We made history."
After David Moyes lifted the trophy as West Ham boss in 2023, he described it as the "biggest moment" of his career.
And last year the competition allowed Olympiakos to become the first Greek club to win a major European trophy.
Chelsea became the first club to complete the full set of major European trophies after beating Real Betis in the 2025 final in Wroclaw.
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Why was the Conference League created?
Uefa said having three competitions - the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League - would ensure at least 34 national associations were represented in the group stage of one or more competitions.
Following the Conference League's introduction, the Europa League was reduced from a 48-team competition to 32 teams but has since changed to 36 - mirroring the new Champions League format.
A total of 32 teams play in the Conference League from the league phase onwards.
Europe's top 12 nations - based on Uefa's association ranking - are only given one Conference League place each before teams - who fail to qualify for the Europa League - are taken into consideration.
Teams who miss out on qualifying for the Europa League must progress through at least one round of qualifying.
In 2024-25, 29 different European nations were represented in the competition's league phase, with Wales and Northern Ireland in for the first time.
Of the seven teams to reach the final in its four-season history, including Real Betis and Chelsea, five have been from teams across Europe's top three ranked nations.
The winner of the competition is handed direct entry into next season's Europa League. If that club has already qualified for the Champions League then they are given a choice.
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