2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying phase and play-off round explained

The 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying phase and play-off round began on 12 July and ended on 31 August 2023.[1]

A total of 160 teams competed in the qualifying system of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League, which included the qualifying phase and the play-off round, with 23 teams in the Champions Path and 137 teams in the Main Path. The 22 winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage, to join the 10 losers of the Europa League play-off round.[2]

Times are CEST (UTC+2), as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Teams

Champions Path

See main article: 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying phase and play-off round (Champions Path).

The Champions Path included league champions which were eliminated from the Champions Path qualifying phase of the Champions League and the Champions Path qualifying phase of the Europa League and consisted of the following rounds:

Below were the participating teams of the Champions Path (with their 2023 UEFA club coefficients, not to be used as seeding for the Champions Path, however),[3] grouped by their starting rounds.

Play-off round
width=218Teamwidth=50
15.000
14.000
11.000
11.000
6.000
Third qualifying round
width=218Teamwidth=50
10.500
8.500
Second qualifying round
width=248Teamwidth=50
27.000
9.000
9.000
7.500
7.500
5.000
4.100
4.000
3.500
3.000
3.000
3.000
2.500
1.800
1.100
1.033
Notes

Main Path

See main article: 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying phase and play-off round (Main Path).

The Main Path included league non-champions and consisted of the following rounds:

Below were the participating teams of the League Path (with their 2022 UEFA club coefficients),[3] grouped by their starting rounds.

Play-off round
width=200Teamwidth=50
Eintracht Frankfurt77.000
Lille30.000
Aston Villa21.914
Fiorentina20.000
Osasuna18.599
18.000
8.000
Third qualifying round
width=200Teamwidth=50
AZ47.500
Dynamo Kyiv35.000
Partizan25.500
18.500
Arouca11.243
Hajduk Split9.000
Heart of Midlothian7.280
Brann5.800
Nordsjælland5.565
Second qualifying round
width=200Teamwidth=50
Club Brugge54.000
Basel53.000
Gent37.500
30.000
CFR Cluj27.500
Midtjylland25.500
PAOK25.000
Maccabi Tel Aviv24.000
Viktoria Plzeň22.000
Bodø/Glimt20.000
Lech Poznań19.000
Hapoel Be'er Sheva17.000
Djurgårdens IF16.500
APOEL14.500
Beşiktaş14.000
CSKA Sofia13.000
Twente11.980
Rijeka11.500
Vitória de Guimarães11.243
FCSB11.000
Legia Warsaw11.000
Rosenborg11.000
Spartak Trnava10.500
AEK Larnaca10.000
Omonia10.000
KuPS9.500
Neftçi9.000
Osijek8.000
Hibernian7.280
Aris7.000
Austria Wien6.800
Petrocub Hîncești6.500
Drita6.500
Vojvodina6.475
Adana Demirspor6.420
Luzern6.335
Vorskla Poltava6.000
Bohemians 19055.810
AGF5.565
Beitar Jerusalem5.000
Hammarby IF4.750
Kalmar FF4.750
Levski Sofia4.500
Kauno Žalgiris4.500
Pogoń Szczecin4.150
Debrecen4.125
Zalaegerszeg4.125
Kecskemét4.125
Sepsi OSK4.100
Gabala4.000
Borac Banja Luka4.000
CSKA 19484.000
Sabah3.325
Ordabasy2.525
Aktobe2.525
Celje2.500
Auda2.125
Differdange 032.000
Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino1.975
First qualifying round
width=200Teamwidth=50
F91 Dudelange10.000
Riga10.000
Maribor9.500
Shkëndija9.500
Linfield8.500
Vaduz8.500
DAC Dunajská Streda8.500
Dundalk8.500
Pyunik8.000
Alashkert8.000
Sutjeska7.500
Shkupi7.000
Sarajevo7.000
RFS6.500
Tobol6.500
B36 Tórshavn6.500
Ararat-Armenia6.500
Gżira United6.000
FCI Levadia6.000
Dinamo Minsk5.500
Connah's Quay Nomads5.500
Milsami Orhei5.000
La Fiorita5.000
HB Tórshavn5.000
Europa5.000
Domžale5.000
FC Santa Coloma5.000
Progrès Niederkorn5.000
Dinamo Batumi4.500
Inter Club d'Escaldes4.500
Crusaders4.500
Paide Linnameeskond4.000
Tirana4.000
Žilina3.950
Torpedo Kutaisi3.500
Víkingur Reykjavík3.000
St Patrick's Athletic3.000
Vllaznia3.000
Víkingur3.000
Derry City3.000
Makedonija2.500
Panevėžys2.500
Honka2.500
Željezničar2.500
Balzan2.500
Zimbru Chișinău2.450
Gjilani2.208
Dukagjini2.208
Haka2.050
Dila Gori2.000
Birkirkara2.000
Glentoran2.000
Narva Trans2.000
Hegelmann2.000
Neman Grodno1.975
KA1.450
Egnatia1.250
Penybont1.233
Haverfordwest County1.233
Bruno's Magpies1.158
Arsenal Tivat0.950
Cosmos0.399
Notes

Format

Each tie was played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home. The team that scored more goals on aggregate over the two legs advanced to the next round. If the aggregate score was level at the end of normal time of the second leg, extra time would be played and if the same number of goals are scored by both teams during extra time, the tie would be decided by a penalty shoot-out.[4]

Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows (all draws were held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland).[1]

Schedule for the qualifying phase of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League
RoundDraw dateFirst legSecond leg
First qualifying round20 June 202313 July 202320 July 2023
Second qualifying round21 June 202327 July 20233 August 2023
Third qualifying round24 July 202310 August 202317 August 2023
Play-off round7 August 202324 August 202331 August 2023

First qualifying round

The draw for the first qualifying round was made on 20 June 2023.

Seeding

A total of 62 teams took part in the first qualifying round. Seeding of teams was based on their 2023 UEFA club coefficients.[3] Teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other.

Prior to the draw, UEFA formed five groups of five seeded and five unseeded teams and one group of six seeded and six unseeded teams in accordance with the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee. The first team drawn in each tie was the home team of the first leg.

Group 1Group 2Group 3
width=16.6%Seededwidth=16.7%Unseededwidth=16.7%Seededwidth=16.6%Unseededwidth=16.7%Seededwidth=16.7%Unseeded
              Group 4Group 5Group 6
              SeededUnseededSeededUnseededSeededUnseeded

                          Summary

                          The first legs were played on 12 and 13 July, and the second legs were played on 18 and 20 July 2023.

                          The winners of the ties advanced to the Main Path second qualifying round. The losers were eliminated from European competitions for the season.

                          Matches

                          Second qualifying round

                          The draw for the second qualifying round was made on 21 June 2023.

                          Seeding

                          A total of 106 teams took part in the second qualifying round. They were divided into two paths:

                          • Champions Path (16 teams): The teams, whose identity was not known at the time of draw, was seeded as follows:
                            • Seeded: 13 of the 15 losers of the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round (two of the teams received byes to the third qualifying round).
                            • Unseeded: 3 losers of the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League preliminary round.
                          • Main Path (90 teams): 59 teams which entered in this round and 31 winners of the first qualifying round. Seeding of teams was based on their 2023 UEFA club coefficients.[3] For the winners of the first qualifying round, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw, the club coefficient of the highest-ranked remaining team in each tie was used. Teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other.

                          Prior to the draw, UEFA formed three groups in the Champions Path with two groups of five seeded teams and one unseeded team, one group of three seeded teams and one unseeded team, and nine groups in the Main Path of five seeded teams and five unseeded teams, in accordance with the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee. In each group of the Champions Path, firstly, a seeded team was drawn against the only unseeded team, and then, the remaining seeded teams were drawn against each other. In the Main Path, numbers were pre-assigned for each team by UEFA, with the draw held in one run for Groups 1–9 with ten teams. The first team drawn in each tie was the home team of the first leg.

                          Champions Path
                          Group 1Group 2Group 3
                          width=16.7%Seededwidth=16.7%Unseededwidth=16.7%Seededwidth=16.7%Unseededwidth=16.6%Seededwidth=16.6%Unseeded
                          valign=topvalign=topvalign=topvalign=topvalign=topvalign=top
                          Main Path
                          Group 1Group 2Group 3
                          width=16.7%Seededwidth=16.7%Unseededwidth=16.7%Seededwidth=16.7%Unseededwidth=16.6%Seededwidth=16.6%Unseeded
                          valign=top
                            		valign=topvalign=topvalign=topvalign=top
                              		valign=top
                              Group 4Group 5Group 6
                              SeededUnseededSeededUnseededSeededUnseeded
                              valign=top
                                		valign=top
                                  		valign=top
                                    		valign=topvalign=top
                                      		valign=top
                                        Group 7Group 8Group 9
                                        SeededUnseededSeededUnseededSeededUnseeded
                                        valign=topvalign=top
                                          		valign=top
                                            		valign=topvalign=topvalign=top

                                            Summary

                                            The first legs were played on 25, 26 and 27 July, and the second legs were played on 1, 2 and 3 August 2023.

                                            The winners of the ties advanced to the third qualifying round of their respective path. The losers were eliminated from European competitions for the season.

                                            Matches

                                            Third qualifying round

                                            The draw for the third qualifying round was held on 24 July 2023.

                                            Seeding

                                            A total of 64 teams took part in the third qualifying round. They were divided into two paths:

                                            • Champions Path (10 teams): eight winners of the second qualifying round (Champions Path), whose identity was not known at the time of the draw and two losers from the first qualifying round of the Champions League which received byes to this round. There was no seeding.
                                            • Main Path (54 teams): nine teams that entered in this round and 45 winners of the second qualifying round (Main Path). Seeding of teams were based on their 2023 UEFA club coefficients.[3] For the winners of the second qualifying round, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw, the club coefficient of the highest-ranked remaining team in each tie was used. Teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other.

                                            Prior to the draw, UEFA formed groups of seeded teams and unseeded teams in accordance with the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee. The first team drawn in each tie was the home team of the first leg.

                                            Champions Path
                                            width=50%Group 1width=50%Group 2
                                            valign=topvalign=top
                                            Main Path
                                            Group 1Group 2Group 3
                                            width=16.7%Seededwidth=16.7%Unseededwidth=16.7%Seededwidth=16.7%Unseededwidth=16.6%Seededwidth=16.6%Unseeded
                                            valign=topvalign=topvalign=topvalign=topvalign=top
                                              		valign=top
                                              Group 4Group 5Group 6
                                              SeededUnseededSeededUnseededSeededUnseeded
                                              valign=topvalign=topvalign=top
                                                		valign=topvalign=topvalign=top
                                                Notes

                                                Summary

                                                The first legs were played on 9 and 10 August, and the second legs were played on 16 and 17 August 2023.

                                                The winners of the ties advanced to the play-off round of their respective path. The losers were eliminated from European competitions for the season.

                                                Matches

                                                Play-off round

                                                The draw for the play-off round was held on 7 August 2023.

                                                Seeding

                                                A total of 44 teams took part in the play-off round. They were divided into two paths:

                                                • Champions Path (10 teams): The teams, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw, were seeded as follows:
                                                  • Seeded: five losers of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round (Champions Path).
                                                  • Unseeded: five winners of the third qualifying round (Champions Path).
                                                • Main Path (34 teams): five teams which entered in this round, 27 winners of the third qualifying round (Main Path) and two losers of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round (Main Path). Seeding of teams were based on their 2023 UEFA club coefficients.[3] For the winners of the third qualifying round and losers of the Europa League third qualifying round, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw, the club coefficient of the highest-ranked remaining team in each tie was used. Teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other.

                                                Prior to the draw, UEFA formed groups of seeded teams and unseeded teams in accordance with the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee. The first team drawn in each tie became the home team of the first leg.

                                                Champions Path
                                                Group 1Group 2
                                                width=25%Seededwidth=25%Unseededwidth=25%Seededwidth=25%Unseeded
                                                valign=topvalign=topvalign=topvalign=top
                                                Main Path
                                                Group 1Group 2
                                                width=25%Seededwidth=25%Unseededwidth=25%Seededwidth=25%Unseeded
                                                valign=top
                                                  		valign=topvalign=top
                                                    		valign=top
                                                      Group 3Group 4
                                                      SeededUnseededSeededUnseeded
                                                      valign=top
                                                        		valign=topvalign=top
                                                          		valign=top
                                                          Notes

                                                          Summary

                                                          The first legs were played on 23 and 24 August, and the second legs were played on 31 August 2023.

                                                          The winners of the ties advanced to the group stage. The losers were eliminated from European competitions for the season.

                                                          In this season, the video assistant referee (VAR) was used from this stage.[5]

                                                          Matches

                                                          Notes and References

                                                          1. Web site: 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League: Matches, final, key dates . . 20 December 2022 . 1 January 2023.
                                                          2. Web site: Regulations of the UEFA Europa Conference League, 2023/24 Season . . 1 May 2022 . 10 May 2022.
                                                          3. Web site: Club coefficients . . 26 May 2023 . 26 May 2023.
                                                          4. News: Abolition of the away goals rule in all UEFA club competitions. . 24 June 2021.
                                                          5. Web site: Does the Europa Conference League have VAR? . . 1 July 2023 . 10 August 2023.

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