Official name: the UEFA Europa League
Number of participants: 186 teams in qualification, 48 teams at the group stage, 32 play-off participants
The Europa League tournament is a direct successor of the UEFA Cup, retaining most of the rules of the famous "Old World" tournament. The competition includes three stages:
Qualification
Group stage
Play-off
Due to the new selection format adopted in 2011, the Europa League tournament lasts almost the entire calendar year, from July to May.
First matches of the 1st qualifying round are played in mid-July. 50 teams, ranked 2nd in the countries with 35–53 coefficients, teams, ranked 3rd in championships from the 22nd to the 41st places and 3 winners of the Fair Play ranking compete with each other in the format of a two-legged tie.
In the next round, another 55 clubs join 25 winners: winners of cup tournaments in championships ranked 30–53, the 5th teams of countries ranked 7–9, bronze medallists of countries ranked 16–21 and those taken the 4th place in countries ranked 10–15.
40 strongest teams get into the third round, being joined by 30 clubs, among which 6th teams of the three leading UEFA championships are distinguished. Also at this stage, bronze winners of championships ranked 7–9 as well as winners of cup tournaments, held in countries ranked 1–17.
The last, fourth qualifying round, includes 35 strongest teams from the previous stage, as well as additional 41 teams, 15 of which are losers of the Champions League 3rd qualifying round. In addition, the fifth teams of the three UEFA rating leaders, the 4th place winners in countries with coefficients 4–6 and the bronze winners of countries rated from 7th to 9th, take part in this round.
The group stage of the Europa League includes 38 qualification winners, as well as 10 teams that failed to win in the 4th qualifying round of the Champions League. As a rule, first matches of the group stage are played in mid-September. According to the UEFA rules, the Europa League matches are held on Thursday, but for those weeks when the Champions League meetings are not organized. Teams play one home and one away match. The tournament takes several weak’s breaks for national teams matches. The group stage reveals 24 strongest teams – two in each group. The final position of clubs depends on the number of points earned, goal difference and the number of goals scored.
At the play-off stage, 12 teams, taken 3rd places in their Champions League groups, join the tournament. This rule was introduced relatively recently – just before the 2011/12 season. At this stage, teams play two matches: at home and away. The away goal rule also is important at this point. Under this rule the ball scored in the away match equals to one and a half balls scored on the home field.
The date of the Europa League final is determined in February or March and, as a rule, precedes the Champions League final. The competition is held on a neutral field, but due to the fact that the arena is chosen before the start of the tournament itself, it may happen so that one of the teams will play the final game at its home site. If the winner is not revealed during the scheduled time, extra times and a penalty shoot-out follow.
The original tournament trophy is kept by UEFA forever and is not handed over after change of rules. Clubs get its copy in ratio 4:5. The Europa League winner receives a ticket to the UEFA Super Cup final, and is entitled to participate in the next tournament. The Europa League provides modest teams with a great chance to fill up their budget. Just for participation in the group stage a club receives 650,000 euros + 60,000 for each match played. Victory in the group stage is estimated at 140,000 euros, and a draw at 70,000. At the qualification stage, the team gets 90,000 euros regardless of the result.
Earnings increase significantly in the play-off: 180,000 in the 1/16 finals, 270,000 in 1/8, 360,000 in 1/4, 630,000 in the semi-final and, lastly, 2 million euros in the final. The winner receives 3 million euros, as well as various bonuses from sponsors.
