The newly formed UEFA Women’s Europa Cup will kick off with its first-ever draw on 31 August in Nyon, ushering in a fully knockout competition format for the 2025/26 season.
12 teams will qualify directly for the tournament, with the remaining spots filled by clubs eliminated from various stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
First qualifying round
11 teams will begin their campaigns in the first qualifying round, joined by the 11 clubs finishing third in the Women’s Champions League second qualifying round mini-tournaments.
Clubs in the first qualifying round:
- Ajax (Netherlands) – coefficient 21.000
- Anderlecht (Belgium) – 11.000
- Spartak Subotica (Serbia) – 10.000
- HB Køge (Denmark) – 8.500
- Rosenborg (Norway) – 7.000
- KuPS Kuopio (Finland) – 6.500
- Sturm Graz (Austria) – 4.150
- Kolos Kovalivka (Ukraine) – 3.800
- GC Frauenfussball (Switzerland)* – 2.850
- Partizani (Albania)* – 2.600
- Aris Limassol (Cyprus)* – 2.400
(*Unseeded in the draw)
Second qualifying round
One team will enter the competition directly in the second qualifying round, alongside the 11 second-place finishers from the Women’s Champions League second qualifying round mini-tournaments and the nine teams eliminated from the Champions League third qualifying round. The 11 winners from the first Europa Cup qualifying round will complete the line-up.
Confirmed direct entrant:
- Slovácko (Czech Republic) – coefficient 3.866
Tournament context and English involvement
As per UEFA’s access list, no English team qualifies directly for the competition. However, Manchester United could enter the Women’s Europa Cup if they are eliminated from the UEFA Women’s Champions League at the appropriate stage.
Key dates
First qualifying round
- Draw: 31 August, Nyon
- First leg: 10/11 September
- Second leg: 17/18 September
Second qualifying round
- Draw: 19 September, Nyon
- First leg: 7/8 October
- Second leg: 15/16 October
Round of 16
- Draw: 17 October, Nyon
- First leg: 11/12 November
- Second leg: 19/20 November
Quarter-finals
- Draw: 17 October, Nyon
- First leg: 11/12 February
- Second leg: 18/19 February
Semi-finals
- Draw: 17 October, Nyon
- First leg: 24/25 March
- Second leg: 1/2 April
Final (two legs)
- Draw to decide order of ties: 17 October, Nyon
- First leg: 25 or 26 April
- Second leg: 2 or 3 May