Uefa is set to create a third-tier club competition behind the Champions League and Europa League from 2021, according to German magazine Sport Bild.
The creation of the as-yet unnamed third-tier competition will see a restructuring of the second-tier Europa League, which will be reduced from 48 to 32 clubs. The new third-tier competition will consist of 32 clubs. The Champions League will continue to be contested by 32 clubs.
Uefa, football’s European governing body, hopes that reducing the number of teams in the Europa League will increase the quality of the competition, leading to greater revenue from media and marketing rights. The creation of a new competition, with clubs from new albeit smaller countries, will also increase the value of media rights in these markets.
The third tier is expected to be in operation for the next three-season cycle, from 2021-22 to 2023-24.