The UEFA Executive Committee has approved ‘UEFA Women’s Europa Cup’ as the name for a newly created second women’s club competition.
Announced a year ago, the tournament will launch in the 2025/26 season.
The UEFA Women’s Europa Cup will give more teams the chance to test themselves against continental opposition, providing further incentive for investment at domestic level.
Athlone Town as the winners of this year’s SASE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division will be the first to have the potential benefit of a second bite at European competition.
As Champions they go into the Champions League Qualifier Round but with only one of four in a group progressing in that tournament, and Irish club has yet to make it.
Now the runners up and the third placed teams from that initial qualification round and the teams knocked out in the second qualifying round will get to play in what will be a straight knock out tournament for the Women’s Europa League.
The Women’s Champions League will also change format to the ‘swiss’ model adopted this year by the Men’s tournament moving from mini round robin groups to a single league format, similar to that which Shamrock Rovers have advanced from this season.
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
More opportunities and more of a financial reward is a good thing. The SSE Airtricity League is currently ranked outside the Top 24 Leagues in Europe but it is through the advance of clubs that we can look to qualify additional teams in future years. The League of Ireland is currently ranked 34th and the Northern Ireland League 43rd.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The full fixture list for the 2025 season of the SSE Airtricity league Men’s and Women’s Divisions will be revealed on Tuesday, December 17th.
MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS
The FAI and the League of Ireland, Sky and SSE Airtricity are all full members of the Sport for Business community.
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE FOR THE SPORTING YEAR AHEAD 2025
Member and Limited number of Non-Member Tickets available
The Sport for Business Membership comprises nearly 300 organisations, including all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies.
