UEFA Conference League Winners: The Full List Of Champions Through 2026
As of August 15, 2026, the UEFA Conference League has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the European football calendar, providing a high-stakes platform for clubs to achieve continental immortality. Since its inception in the 2021-22 season, the tournament has evolved from a "third-tier" experiment into a prestigious battleground where historic clubs and emerging powerhouses fight for a guaranteed spot in the following season’s Europa League. The conclusion of the 2025-26 season marked a half-decade of the competition, showcasing a diverse array of champions from across the continent's top leagues.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Final Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Roma (ITA) | Feyenoord (NED) | 1–0 | Air Albania Stadium, Tirana |
| 2022-23 | West Ham United (ENG) | Fiorentina (ITA) | 2–1 | Fortuna Arena, Prague |
| 2023-24 | Olympiacos (GRE) | Fiorentina (ITA) | 1–0 (a.e.t) | Agia Sophia Stadium, Athens |
| 2024-25 | Real Betis (ESP) | Chelsea (ENG) | 1-0 | Stadion Wrocław, Wrocław |
| 2025-26 | Lyon (FRA) | Villarreal (ESP) | 2–1 | RB Arena, Leipzig |
The Evolution of Glory and the Shift in European Hierarchy
The trajectory of the UEFA Conference League winners reflects a significant shift in how mid-to-high-tier European clubs approach continental qualification. Initially met with skepticism, the tournament gained immediate "blue-chip" credibility when José Mourinho led Roma to the inaugural title on May 25, 2022. This victory not only completed Mourinho’s personal "European Triple Crown" but also set a precedent for the intensity and emotional weight the trophy carries.
Following Roma’s success, West Ham United ended a 43-year trophy drought in June 2023, proving the tournament’s immense value to Premier League sides looking to break the "Big Six" domestic monopoly. The 2023-24 season provided perhaps the most historic narrative yet, as Olympiacos became the first Greek club to win a major UEFA trophy, defeating Fiorentina in a tense final in Athens. This win underscored the tournament's primary mission: democratizing access to European silverware.
By the time the 2025-26 final concluded in Leipzig this past May, the competition had seen a surge in technical quality. The recent success of major clubs like Lyon and Real Betis highlights that the Conference League is no longer a developmental stage, but a primary objective for clubs seeking to boost their UEFA coefficient and secure lucrative commercial revenue. The financial rewards and the automatic path to the Europa League have made the competition a "must-win" for clubs finishing outside the Champions League places in their domestic leagues.
Streaming Logistics and Global Broadcast Access for the 2026/27 Season
For fans looking to follow the new crop of contenders as the 2026-27 qualifying rounds reach their peak this August, the broadcasting landscape remains robust. UEFA has renewed several multi-year deals to ensure the competition reaches a global audience, with a particular focus on digital-first streaming services.
- United Kingdom: TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) remains the exclusive home for all matches, with select highlights available on their digital platforms.
- United States: Paramount+ and CBS Sports continue to provide comprehensive English-language coverage, while Univision handles Spanish-language broadcasts.
- European Markets: Various national broadcasters, including Canal+ in France and Sky Sports in various regions, provide localized coverage of their respective domestic representatives.
With the "League Phase" of the 2026-27 campaign set to begin shortly, viewership numbers are expected to hit record highs. The centralized marketing of the tournament has narrowed the gap between the Conference League and its older siblings, the Champions League and Europa League, making it a staple for midweek football consumption.
West Ham fans line streets to toast Europa Conference League champions ...
Future Outlook and the Road to the 2027 Final
The 2026-27 season is already underway, with the final scheduled to take place at the Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul in May 2027. This upcoming cycle is particularly significant as UEFA continues to refine the "Swiss-style" league format introduced in the 2024-25 season. This format has successfully increased the number of high-profile "big vs. big" matches in the early stages, ensuring that the path to becoming a Conference League winner remains one of the most grueling tests in world football.
As of August 2026, several former winners are once again in the hunt, looking to become the first club to win the competition twice. The influx of talent from the secondary transfer market—fueled by the tournament's increased prestige—means that the gap between the favorites and the dark horses has never been thinner. Teams from the Eredivisie, Portuguese Primeira Liga, and the Turkish Süper Lig are increasingly viewed as legitimate threats to the traditional "Top Five" league dominance.
The legacy of the Conference League is no longer in question. It has provided a platform for legendary moments, from Jarrod Bowen’s last-minute winner in Prague to Ayoub El Kaabi’s extra-time heroics in Athens. As we look toward the 2027 final in Istanbul, the list of winners continues to grow, etching new names into the annals of European football history.
