Six matches, 36 teams and a scramble for the top eight. The Conference League gives every club fewer league-phase games than the Champions League or Europa League, so each result can make a big difference.
Here is how the 2026/27 competition works, and what each position on our Conference League table means.
How does the Conference League league phase work?
The 36 clubs share one table, but they do not all play each other. Each side faces six different opponents, with three matches at home and three away. A win is worth three points, a draw one and a defeat none.
For example, Lugano's 3-0 win over Kauno Žalgiris on Matchday 3 earned Lugano three points. Its three-goal margin also contributed to their goal difference, which can matter when teams finish level.
Which teams qualify for the knockout rounds?
- 1st to 8th: straight into the round of 16.
- 9th to 24th: enter the knockout phase play-offs.
- 25th to 36th: eliminated from European competition.
The top eight avoid two extra games. Finishing in the top 24 keeps a team in the competition, but does not yet secure a last-16 place.
How do the Conference League play-offs work?
Teams in ninth to 16th are seeded against teams in 17th to 24th. Each play-off tie has two legs; the eight winners join the top eight in the round of 16. League position shapes the draw and pairings.
The round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals are also two-legged ties. The final is a single match.
What happens if teams finish level on points?
UEFA first uses league-phase goal difference, followed by goals scored, away goals scored, wins and away wins. If teams are still level after the league phase, further criteria apply, including their opponents' collective results. The complete order is in UEFA's regulations.
Away goals here are a table-ranking criterion, not the old away-goals rule for deciding knockout ties. There is no fixed points total that guarantees eighth or 24th: the cutoff depends on other results and tiebreakers.
Key dates and the prize
The 2026/27 league phase is scheduled to finish on 17 December 2026. The play-offs follow on 18 and 25 February 2027, with the final scheduled for 2 June 2027 in Istanbul. Dates can change: check our Conference League fixtures and UEFA's season guide.
The winners earn a place in the following season's Europa League league phase if they have not qualified for the Champions League or Europa League through their domestic competition. Explore the Conference League overview or compare the Champions League format.
Cover photograph: Daniel, Tottenham v Vitesse, 2021, CC BY 2.0. Cropped, darkened and overlaid with TotalOdds branding and text. Illustrative file photograph.
