Qualifying round
A qualifying round is one of the early rounds of the competition, played before the league phase. Clubs enter at different rounds according to their country's ranking and their domestic finish, and the winners advance.
Why it matters
It matters because it decides the field. The qualifying rounds narrow the entrants down to the clubs that will take part in the league phase, so they are the gate through which most clubs must pass.
Where it is used
It is used before the league phase. There are several qualifying rounds, and a club enters at the one set by its domestic position and its country's ranking, with each round leading to the next.
How to read it
Read the qualifying rounds as the entry to the competition. A club's route depends on where it finished and where its league stands, and each round must be won before the next is reached.
What it means
one of the early rounds in which clubs earn a place in the league phase
Qualifying round is one of the working terms of the competition. This entry explains it as a mechanism that holds true from season to season, so it can be read on its own or alongside the other entries in the glossary of the tournament.
- Played before the league phase.
- Several rounds make up the qualifying stage.
- Entry depends on finish and country ranking.
- Winners advance towards the league phase.
- The gate to the main competition.
- A route built from a club's domestic season.