UEFA Women’s Europa Cup Set to Launch in the 2025/26 Season
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New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) The UEFA Executive Committee has officially designated the 'UEFA Women’s Europa Cup' as the title for its newly established second women’s club tournament. The competition is set to commence in the 2025/26 season, marking the dawn of an exciting new chapter for women's football in Europe.
Initially announced a year ago, this tournament will debut in the 2025/26 season, representing a pivotal moment in the growth of European women’s football. The UEFA Women's Europa Cup will enable a broader range of teams to face off against continental rivals, encouraging further investment at the domestic level.
“The title for our second women’s club competition was selected with care to resonate with fans – influenced by the men’s UEFA Europa League, 'Europa' is already a familiar term linked to the second tier of European club football, while 'Cup' highlights the new tournament’s knockout format.
“These adjustments to UEFA women's club competitions arose from comprehensive consultations and collaborations with the European Club Association (ECA), national associations, leagues, and participating clubs, alongside insights and recommendations from the UEFA Women's Football Committee,” the UEFA statement elaborated.
The tournament will unfold over six rounds – two qualifying phases, the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and a two-legged final.
A total of 13 teams, specifically the third-placed teams in domestic leagues from associations ranked 8-13 and the runners-up from associations ranked 18-24, will gain direct entry into the Women's Europa Cup.
Moreover, clubs that are eliminated during the third qualifying round of the Women's Champions League, along with the runners-up and third-placed teams from the second qualifying round, will enter the tournament through a 'feeding' system.
Victors of the Women’s Europa Cup will automatically secure a spot in the third qualifying round of the champion's path for the subsequent season’s Women’s Champions League.
