The pyramid beneath the Champions League: how the Europa League and the Conference League differ in format and money, and what a win opens.
The Europa League is the second tier of the European pyramid. It is built on the same model as the Champions League, with a league phase and a knockout, but at a different scale.
Core
The Conference League is the third tier of the European pyramid. It gives clubs from smaller leagues and lower ranks their own continental competition, on the same model as the tiers above.
Intermediate
The three competitions are one system. Clubs move between them through qualification and through the knockout, and the pyramid keeps every tier connected to the others.
Core
The Europa League offers more than a trophy. Its winner is carried into the following season's Champions League, so a win in the second tier opens the door to the top one.
Intermediate
The lower competitions distribute money by the same method as the Champions League. The pillars are the same, but the totals are smaller, so the difference between the tiers is one of scale.
Intermediate