Europa League, Europa Conference League and what the DFB Cup has to do with it
According to the regulations, DFB– Cup winners of each season compete in the Europa League in the coming season. On Saturday (May 21, 2022) SC Freiburg and RB Leipzig will play against each other in the final of the DFB Cup. And now it’s getting complicated: Leipzig has already qualified for at least the Europa League via the Bundesliga, and SC Freiburg is very likely. Theoretically, Freiburg could still be intercepted by 1. FC Köln, but that’s not likely.
Should Freiburg also qualify for the Europa League via the Bundesliga, the starting place from the cup would go back to the league. The table sixth would then compete in the group stage of the Europa League, the seventh in the playoffs to the Europa Conference League.
In the case of 1. FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Köln, they should have noted this constellation with some joy. Both clubs are represented internationally in the coming season – only the question of who will play in the Europa League and who will play in the Conference League is still open.
In order to move into the Europa League, FC would have to win at VfB Stuttgart on matchday 34. At the same time, Union would have to lose against VfL Bochum, but at most play a draw. Should Union play a draw, Cologne and Union could not only have the same number of points, but also have an identical goal difference. In this case, the direct comparison would be used, and Union won.