Albanian capital Tirana will be the host for the first final of the new third-tier UEFA Conference League in 2022, European football’s governing body announced on Thursday.
The final will be played at the brand-new 21,690-capacity National Arena on May 25, 2022.
The Conference League is being introduced as a new tournament from the 2021/22 season as part of a restructuring of Europe’s club competitions. UEFA confirmed it would run until at least 2024.
It will feature three qualifying rounds and a play-off round before a 32-team group stage like the current format for the Champions League, with the Europa League group stage being reduced from 48 to 32 teams.
Like the Europa League, matches will be played on Thursdays, although the final will be on a Wednesday.
The UEFA Conference League will largely be seen as an opportunity for teams from outwith Europe’s biggest leagues to win a continental trophy, but clubs from the biggest leagues will still take part.
The team finishing sixth in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A will enter the Conference League at the play-off stage, as well as the side that comes fifth in France’s Ligue 1.
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 weeks agoSaudi oil giant Aramco agrees major FIFA sponsorship deal
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Aramco and world football governing body FIFA on Thursday...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 months agoSon scores but Thailand hold South Korea in World Cup qualifier
Son Heung-min scored but South Korea were held 1-1 at home by Thailand in...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 months agoJapan-N. Korea World Cup game to stay in Pyongyang, JFA says
Japan’s World Cup qualifier against North Korea will be played in Pyongyang as planned...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 months agoGerman ex-FA bosses on trial over World Cup tax evasion
Three German ex-top football officials went on trial on Monday in a 13.7-million-euro ($14.8...
By AFP