UEFA Europa League league phase draw

The 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase draw took place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco from 13:00 CET on Friday 28 August.

League phase draw

Number of teams involved: 36
Number of matches: 144 (18 matches per matchday; 8 matchdays in total)
Matchdays: 16/17 September 2026, 15 October 2026, 22 October 2026, 5 November 2026, 26 November 2026, 10 December 2026, 21 January 2027, 28 January 2027

Draw procedure

Based on Article 16 of the UEFA Europa League regulations, the following draw procedure was adopted by the UEFA Club Competitions Committee. Furthermore, the following paragraphs of the UEL Regulations were applicable to the draw.

Draw system and conditions

A draw, which may be conducted digitally, determined the pairings for the league phase. The 36 clubs were divided into four pots of nine clubs. The pots were composed according to the club coefficient rankings established at the beginning of the season (see Annex D).

The opponents of each team, as well as whether each match is played at home or away, were determined by means of a draw. Each team was drawn against two opponents from each of the four pots and plays one opponent from each pot at home, and the other away. In principle, teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other and each team may play against a maximum of two opponents from any other one association, subject to Paragraph 16.03.

The UEFA administration could have determined alternative conditions for the draw in accordance with the principles set by the UEFA Club Competitions Committee and could have adapted any of the conditions of the draw to avoid deadlock situations and/or take into account any relevant constraints in light of decisions taken by the UEFA Executive Committee.

In accordance with paragraph 16.03 of the UEFA Europa League regulations, the UEFA Club Competitions Committee decided that any individual fixture between the same two teams may not be repeated with the same home team for three consecutive seasons (although, for the sake of clarity, those teams could still be drawn against each other at the venue of the other team).

Draw system

The draw was executed fully digitally, through a designated automated software, as further explained in the procedure below. The whole digital draw process was reviewed and checked by an appointed external auditor.

Draw procedure

The software was used to draw, digitally and at random, a team from pot 1 and their 8 opponents; two from each pot in order (pot 1, pot 2, pot 3, pot 4) including, for each opponent, whether they are played at home or away. The same procedure was repeated for all the remaining teams in pot 1, followed by all teams in the remaining pots (2, 3 and 4) taking into consideration any opponents that had already been drawn. The software always ensured that a valid allocation was made guaranteeing the full draw and match schedule in line with the competition calendar could be completed for all teams which gives a completed draw.

The opponents and which matches are played at home or away were revealed pot by pot starting with pot 1 and ending with pot 4.

Participants

Pot 1
Leverkusen (GER)
Benfica (POR)
Juventus (ITA)
Milan (ITA)
Lyon (FRA)
AZ Alkmaar (NED)
Olympiacos (GRE)
Real Sociedad (ESP)
Marseille (FRA)

Pot 2
Ferencváros (HUN)
Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
Union SG (BEL)
GNK Dinamo (CRO)
Salzburg (AUT)
Celtic (SCO)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Rennes (FRA)
Anderlecht (BEL)

Pot 3
Sturm Graz (AUT)
Lech Poznań (POL)
Crystal Palace (ENG)
Bournemouth (ENG)
Sunderland (ENG)
Celje (SVN)
Jagiellonia (POL)
Omonia (CYP)
Celta (ESP)

Pot 4
Hoffenheim (GER)
Beşiktaş (TUR)
Torreense (POR)
H. Beer-Sheva (ISR)
N.E.C. (NED)
OFI Crete (GRE)
Lillestrøm (NOR)
Levski Sofia (BUL)
Ararat-Armenia (ARM)

Draw explanation

A video explaining the procedure was shown prior to the draw.

Calendar elaboration

In accordance with Paragraph 23.01 (b) of the competition regulations, the UEFA administration decides for MD1 which matches are played on Wednesday and which on Thursday, as well as the kick-off times for MD1-7. Furthermore, as per Paragraph 17.02 of the above-mentioned regulations a club, in principle, does not play more than two home or two away matches in a row, and each club plays one home match and one away match in the first two matchdays and the last two matchdays. If need be, however, the UEFA administration may derogate from these rules.

The calendar of all matches of the league phase will be available, at the latest, on Sunday 30 August 2026