New format and name for UEFA Cup

Europe’s governing football body UEFA today unveiled a new set-up for the UEFA Cup, which will in fact have its name changed next season.

The ‘UEFA Europe League’, as the tournament has been dubbed, will consist of 48 teams divided into twelve groups of four.

The winners and runners-up of these groups, a total of 24 teams, will then be joined by the third-placed teams in the Champions League group phase. These 32 sides will compete for the cup using a knock-out format, as has been the case in previous editions.

Until now, the tournament started with 80 teams of which forty made it to the group phase. This round had teams competing in eight groups of five, with the top three advancing to the next round.