To participate in the Europa League, 17 teams have already directly qualified for the league phase. The remaining 19 spots are decided through a variety of methods. Twelve teams will join the league phase via the qualifying phase, which concludes with the play-offs in late August, played over two legs. Seven clubs will also drop down into the Europa League after losing the Champions League play-offs.
The qualifying rounds for the Europa League are scheduled as follows:
The first qualifying round takes place on July 9th and 16th, 2026. The second qualifying round is on July 23rd and 30th, 2026. The third qualifying round is on August 6th and 13th, 2026. The play-offs are on August 20th and 27th, 2026.
The following 17 teams have already qualified for the Europa League proper:
AZ (NED); Bournemouth (ENG); Celta Vigo (ESP); Crystal Palace (ENG); Hoffenheim (GER); Juventus (ITA); Bayer Leverkusen (GER); Marseille (FRA); AC Milan (ITA); Olympiacos (GRE); Real Sociedad (ESP); Rennes (FRA); Sparta Prague (CZE); Sturm Graz (AUT); Sunderland (ENG); Torreense (POR); Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL).
The draws for the Europa League qualifying rounds are scheduled as follows:
The first qualifying round draw is on June 16th, 2026. The second qualifying round draw is on June 17th, 2026. The third qualifying round draw is on July 20th, 2026. The play-offs draw is on August 3rd, 2026. The league phase draw is on August 28th, 2026. The knockout round play-offs draw is on January 29th, 2027. The Round of 16 and final bracket draw is on February 26th, 2027.
The draw for the main phase of the Europa League takes place on August 28th, 2026, in Monaco. The ceremony is a combined event for the Europa and Conference League draws and can be streamed on UEFA.com.
The teams that finish in the top eight of the league phase after the eight matchdays qualify for the Europa League's Round of 16. Those between ninth and 24th will enter the play-off knockout round. The 12 teams ranked between 25th and 36th will exit the competition when the league phase is concluded.
The league phase matchdays are scheduled as follows:
Matchday 1 is on September 16th-17th, 2026. Matchday 2 is on October 15th, 2026. Matchday 3 is on October 22nd, 2026. Matchday 4 is on November 5th, 2026. Matchday 5 is on November 26th, 2026. Matchday 6 is on December 10th, 2026. Matchday 7 is on January 21st, 2027. Matchday 8 is on January 28th, 2027.
The format of the Europa League involves a qualifying phase, followed by a league phase, and then a knockout round. The teams that finish in the top eight of the league phase qualify for the Europa League's Round of 16. Those between ninth and 24th will enter the play-off knockout round. The 12 teams ranked between 25th and 36th will exit the competition when the league phase is concluded.
The teams that have already qualified for the Europa League proper are:
AZ (NED); Bournemouth (ENG); Celta Vigo (ESP); Crystal Palace (ENG); Hoffenheim (GER); Juventus (ITA); Bayer Leverkusen (GER); Marseille (FRA); AC Milan (ITA); Olympiacos (GRE); Real Sociedad (ESP); Rennes (FRA); Sparta Prague (CZE); Sturm Graz (AUT); Sunderland (ENG); Torreense (POR); Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL).
The league phase draw is a combined event for the Europa and Conference League draws and can be streamed on UEFA.com. The teams that participate in the draw are placed into four pots, with one being the highest-ranked and four being the lowest. The pot placements are based on UEFA's club coefficient ranking from the five-season period ending at the conclusion of 2025/26.
The teams that finish in the top eight of the league phase after the eight matchdays qualify for the Europa League's Round of 16. Those between ninth and 24th will enter the play-off knockout round. The 12 teams ranked between 25th and 36th will exit the competition when the league phase is concluded.
The league phase matchdays are scheduled as follows:
Matchday 1 is on September 16th-17th, 2026. Matchday 2 is on October 1
