What’s the difference between the EPL, Champions and Europa soccer leagues?

If you’re new to the world of soccer then you may be struggling to understand the leagues and the differences between them. If this sounds like you then read on!

In short, the Premier League (the EPL) is a soccer league in England that sees some of the world’s top teams competing for the League Trophy, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. Currently, 20 English and Welsh clubs are included in the league and the season runs from August to May. An astounding 380 matches are played, which usually take place on Saturdays and Sundays.

Thanks to the quality of the players in the Premier League, who come from all over the world, the epic stadiums and the loyal fan base, the Premier League has grown from strength to strength and is considered by many to be the leading European football league.

The UEFA Champions League (UCL), which dates back to 1992, is an annual continental soccer competition that sees top clubs from across Europe compete in what is considered one of the most prestigious tournaments in football. The League has undergone a major revamp in recent history, so that it now includes 36 top clubs. Each of these plays eight different teams in an initial league phase, with four matches at home and four away. The top eight teams from the league phase automatically qualify for the final 16, while the clubs that placed 9th to 24th go through to a knock-out stage in order to qualify for the final 16. Those placing 25th or lower are eliminated and do not enter the Europa League (see below). Meanwhile, the final 16 play a series of two-legged knock-out games until there are two left, who play a final match in May. Real Madrid has been the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the tournament 15 times, but English, German and Italian clubs also perform well.

The UEFA Europa League (UEL) is a level down from the Champions League and was previously known as the UEFA Cup. It also takes place annually and clubs qualify to take part based on their performance in their national leagues. This means that domestic cup winners qualify, along with other teams that have placed well in their domestic league. In addition, the holders of the UEFA Europa Conference League (Olympiacos) are guaranteed a spot. Following a revamp, it now takes a similar format to the UEFA Champions League, with an initial 36-team league phase. As with the Champions League, the top eight qualify for the final 16, and those placing 9th to 24th play knock-out play-offs in order to join them. The final 16 is then a straight knock-out until a final match. The winner automatically qualifies for the next Champions League, making Europa League matches fiercely competitive and enjoyable. 

The UEFA Conference League (UECL) is a third European knockout competition that started in the 2021/22 season. It is a level down from the UEFA Europa League and two levels down from the UEFA Champions League and involves clubs that did not qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League but still performed very well in their national leagues. The format is again similar to the revamped Champions League and the winner of this competition qualifies for the next Europa League.

So, those are the basic differences between the English Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europe League and the UEFA Conference League. If you’re a soccer fan then you may be interested in our Soccer Experience, which includes match tickets to a live soccer game in Europe and, in some cases, we can also include a stadium tour. Contact us for more information!