The top countries throughout Europe play in multi-country playoff tournaments to determine the best teams in all of Europe for any given year. Champions League, CEV Cup, and CEV Challenge Cup are international, cream-of-the-crop tournaments.
Champions League is the highest-level tournament consisting of the top team from most of the best countries.
CEV Cup and CEV Challenge Cup are separate tournaments, which usually consist of the second to fourth or fifth place teams from the top countries. Some wealthier, more competitive teams from second tier countries also travel to play in these tournaments if they qualify.
Landing spots on European Cup teams can be challenging, even for US National Team members, collegiate All-Americans, or National Team development players.