UEFA Conference League 2026/27: 36 Teams Confirmed for League Phase After Play-Offs

UEFA Conference League 2026/27 league phase teams are now confirmed after the qualifying play-offs concluded on 27 August. Ajax, Brighton & Hove Albion, Monaco, Freiburg, Hearts and Getafe are among the clubs in the 36-team field ahead of the league-phase draw in Monaco on Friday, 28 August.

The final lineup combines 24 winners from the Conference League play-offs with 12 clubs dropping into the competition after losing their Europa League play-off ties.

All 36 teams have now been divided into six draw pots, with each club set to face six different opponents during the league phase.

Here is the complete list, the major play-off results and everything to know before the draw.

Conference League 2026/27: All 36 League Phase Teams

The 36 clubs are divided into six pots of six based on their UEFA club coefficients.

Conference League Pot 1

Conference League Pot 2

Conference League Pot 3

Conference League Pot 4

Conference League Pot 5

Conference League Pot 6

The six pots give the league phase a broad mix of established European names, clubs returning to continental competition and teams with an opportunity to test themselves against opponents from different leagues.

How the 36 Conference League Teams Qualified

There are no automatic league-phase places in the 2026/27 Conference League.

The final field is assembled through two qualification routes.

Clubs eliminated from the Europa League play-offs therefore continue their European campaigns in the Conference League league phase.

This also shows why the three UEFA club competitions are closely connected during qualifying. Our European qualifying coverage follows how clubs have moved through the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League pathways.

READ ALSO: Premier League 2026/27 Matchweek 1 Results: Table, Key Stories & What Comes Next

Ajax Finish the Job Against Sion

Ajax secured their league-phase place with two high-scoring victories over Sion.

The Dutch club entered the second leg with a 4-2 advantage after winning in Switzerland, then produced another attacking performance to win 5-3 in Amsterdam.

That gave Ajax a 9-5 aggregate victory and secured a place in Pot 1 for the league-phase draw.

Ajax’s European history makes them one of the most recognisable teams in the competition, but their seeding will not protect them from facing strong opposition during the league phase.

Brighton Reach the League Phase with a Four-Goal Win

Brighton & Hove Albion advanced after a convincing second-leg performance against Tromsø.

The first meeting in Norway finished 0-0, leaving the tie completely open ahead of the return fixture.

Brighton responded with a 4-0 victory at home to qualify 4-0 on aggregate.

They enter the league-phase draw in Pot 2 and will now discover six different opponents for their first Conference League campaign.

Monaco Cruise Through Against Górnik Zabrze

Monaco followed their 3-2 first-leg victory over Górnik Zabrze with an emphatic 4-1 win at Stade Louis-II.

The result gave Monaco a 7-3 aggregate victory and secured their place in Pot 1.

Their presence adds another major Ligue 1 club to the league phase and gives Monaco the opportunity to build a European campaign through six different opponents.

Freiburg Complete a Convincing Qualification

Freiburg also progressed comfortably after winning both legs against Motherwell.

The German side established control with a 3-1 victory in Scotland before winning 4-1 in the return fixture.

That completed a 7-2 aggregate victory and placed Freiburg alongside Atalanta, Braga, Ajax, Monaco and Copenhagen in Pot 1.

Hearts Survive a Dramatic Penalty Shootout

Hearts produced one of the most dramatic qualifications of the play-off round against Rapid Wien.

Both legs finished 2-2, leaving the clubs level at 4-4 on aggregate after extra time in Vienna.

Hearts had also been reduced to ten players during the second leg but remained in the contest and eventually won the penalty shootout 4-3.

The result secured a league-phase place and puts Hearts in Pot 4 for the draw.

Jablonec Knock Rangers Out on Penalties

Another major play-off story came from Jablonec’s victory over Rangers.

The tie finished level at 1-1 on aggregate and required penalties to determine the qualifier.

Jablonec won the shootout 4-3, ending Rangers’ Conference League campaign and securing a place in Pot 5.

It was one of the most notable eliminations of the final qualifying round.

Riga End Klaksvík’s European Run

Riga and Klaksvík entered their second leg level following a 0-0 draw in the Faroe Islands.

The Latvian side then secured a 2-1 home victory to take the tie by the same aggregate score.

Riga’s progression places them in Pot 5 alongside Hajduk Split, Jablonec, Nordsjælland, Aarhus and Inter Escaldes.

When Is the Conference League 2026/27 League Phase Draw?

The Conference League 2026/27 league phase draw takes place in Monaco on Friday, 28 August.

The draw determines each club’s opponents and whether those games will be played home or away.

UEFA will then publish the complete fixture list with match dates and kick-off times separately, with the schedule due no later than Sunday, 30 August.

How Does the Conference League Draw Work?

The Conference League does not use traditional four-team groups.

All 36 clubs compete in one league table.

Each team is drawn against one opponent from each of the six pots, meaning every club faces six different teams.

For the allocation of home and away fixtures:

• Pots 1 and 2 are paired.
• Pots 3 and 4 are paired.
• Pots 5 and 6 are paired.
• Each club plays one opponent from each paired set at home and the other away.

That produces three home matches and three away matches.

Teams from the same association cannot normally be drawn against each other, while a club can face a maximum of two opponents from any other single association.

The Conference League Format Is Not New in 2026/27

The league-phase system is now entering its third season.

UEFA introduced the 36-team structure in 2024/25, replacing the previous traditional group stage.

That distinction matters because the 2026/27 competition does not introduce a new system. It continues the format already used in the previous two seasons.

All league-phase results contribute to the same overall 36-team table.

READ ALSO: 2026/27 UEFA Champions League: Qualified teams, format, key dates and teams to watch

What Happens After the Conference League League Phase?

Each team plays six matches, with three points awarded for a win and one for a draw.

The final table determines progression.

Finishing inside the top eight therefore avoids the additional two-legged knockout play-off in February.

The clubs ranked ninth to 24th remain in the competition but must win another tie to reach the last 16.

Teams to Watch in the League Phase

Atalanta

Atalanta enter from Pot 1 and bring significant recent European experience.

Their coefficient places them among the highest-seeded clubs in the draw, although the Conference League format still requires them to face an opponent from every pot.

Ajax

Ajax arrive after scoring nine goals across their two play-off meetings with Sion.

Their attacking play during qualifying makes their league-phase fixtures one of the more interesting storylines to follow.

Monaco

A 7-3 aggregate win over Górnik Zabrze sends Monaco into the league phase with momentum.

Their Pot 1 position makes them another of the established clubs likely to attract attention when the six opponents are confirmed.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton are England’s representative in the competition and enter from Pot 2 after eliminating Tromsø.

Their draw could include major Pot 1 opposition alongside clubs from several less familiar European leagues, giving their schedule significant variety.

Hearts

Hearts reached the league phase through one of the most dramatic routes, surviving a red card, extra time and penalties against Rapid Wien.

Their position in Pot 4 means the Scottish side could be handed several challenging fixtures.

READ ALSO: 2026/27 UEFA Europa League: Third qualifying round results, talking points & playoffs fixtures

Conference League 2026/27 League Phase Dates

The Conference League league phase begins later than the Champions League and Europa League and concludes before the end of the calendar year.

Conference League 2026/27 Knockout Dates

The 2026/27 Conference League final will be played at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul.

Follow Conference League Fixtures, Scores and Standings

Once the draw is complete, attention moves to the six league-phase fixtures assigned to every club.

Follow SP Score for current UEFA Conference League fixtures, live scores, results, match statistics and league standings throughout the competition.

For more on how clubs reached this stage through UEFA qualifying, read our Europa League qualifying guide.

Users can also review available football markets and make their own selections through SportPesa Global or access SportPesa on mobile through the SportPesa App.

READ ALSO: UEL Third Qualifying Round Results and 2026/27 Play-Off Draw

Conclusion

The Conference League 2026/27 league phase teams are now confirmed, with 36 clubs divided across six pots ahead of the 28 August draw. Ajax, Monaco, Freiburg, Brighton and Hearts are among the teams that came through the decisive play-off round, while other clubs entered after dropping from the Europa League. Each team will now receive six different opponents before the league phase begins on 15 October. Follow the fixtures, results and standings through SP Score as the competition develops.