Crystal Palace to Compete in Europa Conference League, Not Europa League Next Season

Crystal Palace will play in the UEFA Europa Conference League for the 2025/26 season. UEFA announced the club will not be in the Europa League. After reviewing the qualification rules, Palace will start their European campaign in the third-tier club competition.

WHAT HAPPENED?

UEFA confirmed Crystal Palace, who qualified for Europe through their league position, will enter the Conference League, not the Europa League. This change follows UEFA’s updated qualification rules for the upcoming season, affecting how English teams are placed in Europe’s competitions.

WHY THE CHANGE MATTERS

This affects the club’s international profile and competitive prospects. Palace finished the 2024/25 Premier League season in 12th place

According to a previous report, Crystal Palace finished 12th in the Premier League in the 2024/25 season.

earning a Europa League spot. With the switch to the Conference League, they’ll face different opponents and might have a better chance to progress deep into the tournament. Last season, Palace’s key players, Guehi and Eberechi Eze, performed well, helping the team secure their European spot. The Conference League may give Palace a realistic chance at a long European run but it does not provide the visibility, and financial reward, that the Europa League does.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEW SEASON

Crystal Palace’s first campaign in European football will start in the Conference League’s qualifying rounds. The club will need to win two-legged ties to reach the group stage. Their opening Premier League fixture for 2025/26 is an away game against Chelsea. Both teams are expected to be in the ready for the new season, with Chelsea being a title contender, while Palace will have to balance domestic and European commitments for the first time. Fans will be eager to see how the squad adapts to the extra workload and whether stars like Guehi and Eze can maintain their impressive form in Europe.