Uefa set to introduce third club competition

Tournament to run alongside Champions League and Europa League from 2021/22

Athird Uefa club competition is set to be introduced from the 2021-22 season, the head of the association representing Europe’s biggest clubs said on Tuesday.

European Club Association (ECA) chairman Andrea Agnelli told his members at a meeting in Split that the new event would bring the “overall number of clubs” involved in Uefa club competition to 96, the ECA said on Twitter.

“Pending approval of the Uefa executive committee, the ‘green light’ has been given to introduce a third competition, bringing the overall number of clubs to 96, as of the 2021-22 season,” Agnelli said.

Europe currently has two club competitions — the Champions League, which features 32 teams, and the Europa League, which has 48.

Europe used to have a third competition for winners of domestic cup competitions, known as the Cup Winners’ Cup, but it was abolished in 1999. Domestic cup winners now enter the Europa League.

The ECA has previously called for more clubs to be involved in European competitions and a “greater certainty of matches” for participating clubs.