The UEFA Conference League, launched in 2021, is the third-tier competition in European club football, sitting below the Europa League and Champions League, and was created to give clubs from lower-ranked UEFA associations a chance to compete on the continental stage. Originally named the UEFA Europa Conference League, it was rebranded to its current name in the 2024–25 season, which also replaced the traditional group stage with an expanded 36-team league phase. No teams qualify directly for this phase; instead, spots are filled by clubs eliminated from the Europa League play-offs and those progressing through Conference League qualifiers, with the winner earning a place in the following season's Europa League. Roma were the inaugural champions in 2022, while Crystal Palace are the current title holders after defeating Rayo Vallecano in the 2026 final. Notable milestones include West Ham United becoming the first team to win all six group-stage matches in 2022–23 (en route to their title), and Harry Kane scoring the competition's first hat-trick in 2021. The trophy itself stands 57.5 cm tall and weighs 11 kg, symbolizing the tournament's growing prestige among Europe's emerging clubs.