The UEFA Europa League draw 2026/27 has been completed, with four British clubs learning their opponents for the new league phase. Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Celtic will all face a challenging schedule as they begin their campaigns for European glory.
The draw has produced several eye-catching fixtures, including Bournemouth vs AC Milan, Sunderland’s trip to San Siro to face Milan, Crystal Palace’s meeting with Real Sociedad and Celtic’s home clash against Marseille.
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With 36 teams involved in the league phase, every club will play eight matches against eight different opponents before the knockout stage begins in 2027.
Bournemouth Face AC Milan in Dream Europa League Draw
Bournemouth have been handed one of the most exciting draws of their first European campaign.
The Premier League club will welcome AC Milan to Dean Court, giving supporters the opportunity to watch one of Europe’s most historic clubs on home soil.
The Cherries will also travel to Spain twice during the league phase to face Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo. Their other away fixtures include trips to Sparta Prague and Norwegian side Lillestrom.
Bournemouth’s eight Europa League opponents are:
| Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|
| AC Milan | Home |
| Real Sociedad | Away |
| Viktoria Plzen | Home |
| Sparta Prague | Away |
| Sturm Graz | Home |
| Celta Vigo | Away |
| Hapoel Beer Sheva | Home |
| Lillestrom | Away |
The draw gives Bournemouth a mixture of elite European opposition and potentially more manageable fixtures. Their home meeting with Milan is likely to be one of the highlights of the league phase.
Crystal Palace Prepare for European Challenge
Crystal Palace will also face a demanding Europa League schedule after making their way into the competition as Conference League champions.
Palace have been drawn against Real Sociedad, Lyon, Sparta Prague, Red Bull Salzburg, Lech Poznan, Jagiellonia, Hoffenheim and Besiktas.
The London club will host Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan and Hoffenheim at home, while their away fixtures include trips to Lyon, Salzburg, Jagiellonia and Besiktas.
Crystal Palace Europa League Fixtures
| Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|
| Real Sociedad | Home |
| Lyon | Away |
| Sparta Prague | Home |
| Red Bull Salzburg | Away |
| Lech Poznan | Home |
| Jagiellonia | Away |
| Hoffenheim | Home |
| Besiktas | Away |
The trip to Turkey to face Besiktas could prove particularly difficult, while matches against Real Sociedad and Lyon will provide Palace with opportunities to test themselves against established European sides.
Sunderland Return to European Football After 53 Years
Sunderland are set to experience European football again after an absence of 53 years.
The Black Cats have been handed a particularly exciting away fixture against AC Milan at the San Siro, one of the most iconic stadiums in world football.
Sunderland will also host AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb and Jagiellonia, while their away schedule includes Anderlecht, Lech Poznan, Levski Sofia and Torreense.
Sunderland Europa League Opponents
| Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|
| AZ Alkmaar | Home |
| AC Milan | Away |
| Dinamo Zagreb | Home |
| Anderlecht | Away |
| Jagiellonia | Home |
| Lech Poznan | Away |
| Levski Sofia | Home |
| Torreense | Away |
The visit to San Siro will undoubtedly be the standout fixture of Sunderland’s league phase. Facing Milan away from home will provide a major test for a club returning to European competition after more than five decades.
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Celtic Draw Marseille and Benfica
Scottish champions Celtic will also compete in the Europa League after their Champions League qualifying campaign came to an end.
Celtic have been drawn against Marseille, Benfica, Ferencvaros, Union SG, Celta Vigo, Omonia, Besiktas and Torreense.
The Glasgow side will welcome Marseille, Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo and Besiktas to Celtic Park. Their away matches will see them travel to Benfica, Union SG, Omonia and Torreense.
Celtic Europa League Opponents
| Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|
| Marseille | Home |
| Benfica | Away |
| Ferencvaros | Home |
| Union SG | Away |
| Celta Vigo | Home |
| Omonia | Away |
| Besiktas | Home |
| Torreense | Away |
The home fixtures against Marseille and Besiktas should create some of the most intense atmospheres of Celtic’s European campaign, while the trip to Benfica represents another major test.
How Does the Europa League League Phase Work?
The Europa League 2026/27 features a league phase involving 36 clubs.
Instead of being placed into traditional groups, each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents. Every club will play four matches at home and four away.
At the end of the league phase, the teams will be separated according to their final positions in the table.
- 1st to 8th: Direct qualification for the round of 16
- 9th to 24th: Enter the knockout phase play-offs
- 25th to 36th: Eliminated from the competition
The winners of the knockout phase play-offs will join the top eight teams in the round of 16.
Europa League 2026/27 League Phase Dates
The league phase will run from September 2026 through January 2027.
| Matchday | Date |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | September 16-17, 2026 |
| Matchday 2 | October 15, 2026 |
| Matchday 3 | October 22, 2026 |
| Matchday 4 | November 5, 2026 |
| Matchday 5 | November 26, 2026 |
| Matchday 6 | December 10, 2026 |
| Matchday 7 | January 21, 2027 |
| Matchday 8 | January 28, 2027 |
The final league-phase fixtures will take place on January 28, 2027, when the teams still in contention will discover their routes into the knockout rounds.
Europa League 2026/27 Knockout Stage Dates
The knockout stage will begin in February 2027, with the competition eventually concluding with the final in Frankfurt.
- Knockout phase play-offs: February 18 and 25, 2027
- Round of 16: March 11 and 18, 2027
- Quarter-finals: April 8 and 15, 2027
- Semi-finals: April 29 and May 6, 2027
- Europa League final: May 26, 2027 – Frankfurt
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British Clubs Target European Glory
The presence of Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland gives English football three representatives in the Europa League, while Celtic provide Scotland with another strong contender.
The previous two editions of the competition were won by Premier League clubs, with Tottenham lifting the trophy before Aston Villa claimed the following title. The British representatives will therefore be hoping to continue that recent success.
For Bournemouth, the tournament represents an opportunity to make an immediate impression on the European stage. Sunderland will be looking to make their long-awaited return memorable, while Crystal Palace and Celtic will aim to progress as far as possible.
With major fixtures against AC Milan, Real Sociedad, Lyon, Marseille, Benfica and Besiktas, the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 promises plenty of high-profile matches from the opening league phase through to the final in Frankfurt.
