UEFA Conference League Teams 2026/27

Returning for the sixth edition in 2026/27, the UEFA Conference League is the third tier of European competition. All 36 Conference League teams sealed their spots through qualifying, with 24 sides coming through the Conference League play-offs, while 12 outfits transferred from Europa League qualifying.

Featuring clubs from 30 member national associations, the Conference League is more diverse in terms of club representation compared to the more prestigious Champions League.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Conference League, this comprehensive guide gives you the full lowdown. We’ve mentioned all Conference League teams for 26/27, how qualifiers work, and shared some key dates to make note of.

Conference League Teams 2026/27

The Conference League has undergone a revamp over the past few seasons, and once again, it offers a great avenue to European football for those sides that wouldn’t normally play on such a stage.

Anyway, we’ve shared below the full list of UEFA Conference League teams for the 26/27 campaign:

There are a few things worth pointing out in terms of the makeup and structure of the league phase:

• Previously, there used to be a group stage where there were 32 teams split into eight groups of four.
• Now, all 36 teams congregate and take part in a league, and the top eight qualify automatically for the last 16.
• The 2026/27 campaign marks the third season where there is a 36-team league-phase format.
• The field contains a mix of established European clubs as well as sides that have had a lack of experience in UEFA competitions.
• Andorra made history as they have a representative through to a UEFA men’s league phase/group stage for the first time (Inter Escaldes).

Which Countries Have Teams in the Conference League?

The Conference League is perhaps the most diverse competition in terms of the geographical spread of teams, covering all parts of Europe.

Some countries have a greater proportion of clubs involved than others, but below are some key observations:

• The 36 clubs involved are formed by 30 member associations, which is greater than other UEFA men’s competitions.
• Denmark has stumped up the most teams (four), and some of these have had exposure to European football — Aarhus, Copenhagen, Midtjylland, and Nordsjaelland.
• Belgium, Netherlands, and Switzerland have contributed two teams to the tournament.
• Europe’s major leagues (Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1) all have representatives. However, the participation levels of teams from these leagues is smaller than in the Champions League and Europa League, where there is a greater concentration of sides emanating from these countries.
• The competition also includes less heralded teams from countries such as Gibraltar, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.
• Andorra’s Inter Escaldes are one of the UEFA Conference League teams making their debut, and they will be hoping to spring a surprise.

Which English and UK Teams Are in the Conference League?

English teams in the Conference League have fared well over the years and they have a proven track record of success in the competition.

In 2025/26, Crystal Palace became the third English side to win the competition when they beat Rayo Vallecano in the Final. Meanwhile, West Ham United (2023) and Chelsea (2025) were the other two sides to land the Conference League, and teams that win the Conference League qualify automatically for the Europa League the following season.

This section addresses the British contingent in the Conference League for 2026/27.

Brighton

The sole Premier League representative in the Conference League, Brighton’s eighth-place finish in England’s top-flight division meant they bypassed the first three qualifying rounds.

A comfortable 4-0 win at home to Tromso in the second leg of their Conference League play-off tie helped them advance to the main draw.

Hearts

Having come agonisingly close to lifting the Scottish Premiership title last term, Hearts entered the Conference League play-offs after losing to Benfica in the Europa League third qualifying round. They subsequently defeated Rapid Wien on penalties to reach the league phase.

There are therefore two British clubs involved in the Conference League 2026/27 phase — Brighton and Hearts.

Qualification routes largely depend on domestic league performances. Also, UEFA’s access list is a blueprint measuring how many teams from each country qualify for a European competition, and what qualifying round they enter.

Also, UEFA runs country rankings, or coefficients as they are commonly known, tracking the cumulative performance of teams over a five-year period. 

How Do Teams Qualify for the Conference League?

Teams enter the Conference League qualification process at different stages, which depend on their association club coefficient rankings and qualification route.

There are two qualification paths — the champions path and the league path — with qualifying ties contested over two legs, home and away. In the main path, for example, 52 teams entered the first Conference League qualifying round.

Here are a few key takeaways you should be aware of when it comes to Conference League qualification:

• Clubs will enter the Conference League qualification process based on domestic league positions. Brighton, for example, finished eighth in the Premier League last term and entered qualifying at the last stage.
• Entry rounds vary according to each association’s UEFA access allocation, while club coefficients are also used when determining seeding during qualifying.
• There is no direct league-phase entrant for the 2026/27 Conference League; all 36 teams came through qualifying, with some playing more matches than others.
• The final league-phase field is broken down into 24 Conference League play-off winners and 12 teams transferring from Europa League qualifying.
• There is no one identical route to Conference League qualifying, with teams entering through various pathways.
• Teams that lose during the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and Europa League were given another chance to secure European football when they were parachuted down into the Conference League.

Conference League Qualifying

There are 52 teams that will enter the main path and embark on their Conference League qualification journey, which usually begins in July.

They will have to contend with three qualifying rounds, all of which are two legs (home and away), and they must prevail in all these ties to reach the play-offs. 

The play-offs is the final qualifying round for teams before they can put their names in the hat for the main Conference League draw. Defeated sides at this stage are eliminated from the competition.

Teams Transferring from the Europa League

Losing sides from the qualifying rounds of the Europa League were parachuted down into the Conference League qualification process, offering them a much-needed lifeline to secure European football.

However, losing sides from the Europa League play-off stage are given a reprieve as they drop directly into the Conference League.

Which Teams Are in Each Conference League Draw Pot?

For the Conference League draw, 36 teams are divided into six pots, but it doesn’t represent separate groups. 

Pot one features the highest-ranked sides while Pot six denotes the lowest-ranked teams, and this is determined by UEFA’s club coefficient rankings, which track performances over five years.

Each club is drawn manually using a physical ball starting from the first pot. Once a ball is drawn, designated automated software draws six opponents for each club, and teams cannot face a team from their own national association and can be drawn against no more than two teams from any other association.

Our table illustrates UEFA’s confirmed seeding pots for the 2026/27 league-phase draw:

When Do Conference League Teams Play?

Each team plays six matches during the league phase of the Conference League, of which three are at home and three are away.

Below is the full list of the six league-phase matchdays for 2026/27 as confirmed by UEFA.

Below are a couple of other pointers worth keeping in mind regarding the tournament structure:

• The knockout phase play-offs begin in February 2027.
• This will consist of teams finishing 9th to 24th in the league phase. Here, the eight teams who win their two-legged ties will join the top eight teams from the league phase in the Round of 16 stage in March 2027.
• The 12 teams ranked 25th to 36th after the conclusion of the league phase exit the competition.
• From the Round of 16, the Conference League knockouts mirror the format used in the Champions League and Europa League.
• The Conference League concludes with the final at Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul on 2 June 2027. The venue previously staged the 2026 Europa League Final and the 2019 UEFA Super Cup.

Frequently Asked Questions About Conference League Teams

How many teams are in the Conference League?

The Conference League 2026/27 league phase features 36 teams from 30 different countries.

Which English team is in the Conference League?

Brighton are the sole English representative competing in the Conference League in 2026/27.

How many matches does each team play?

Each team plays six league-phase matches, of which three are at home and three are away.

Are there groups in the Conference League?

No. The previous format consisted of eight groups of four teams, but following a switch, the Conference League places 36 teams into one league.

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