At its conclusion, the best teams progressed to the knockout stage, a series of single elimination games to determine the winners, starting with the Round of 32 and ending with the final.

BSWW determine the strength of each league by analysing the performance of all clubs in the EWC on a country-by-country basis over the previous five editions.

[2][5] In accordance with sanctions imposed by FIFA and UEFA in 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, clubs from Russia remain banned from entering this year.

[5] SA MVR of Bulgaria originally entered the EW Challenge and were present for the draw but subsequently withdrew and were replaced by Leixões of Portugal.

The draw for the round of 32, and allocation of ties to the bracket, took place after the conclusion of all group stage matches on 14 June.