2025–26 UEFA Europa League
 The Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul will host the final | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Qualifying: 10 July – 28 August 2025 Competition proper: 24 September 2025 – 20 May 2026 |
| Teams | Competition proper: 25+11 Total: 45+32 (from 41 associations) |
← 2024–25 2026–27 → | |
The 2025–26 UEFA Europa League is the 55th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 17th season since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League.
The final will be played on 20 May 2026 at Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.[1]
This is the second season played under a new format, which replaced the 32-team group stage with a 36-team league phase.
Tottenham Hotspur are the reigning champions, but will not be able to defend their title as the winner of the Europa League automatically qualifies for the Champions League league phase, and the new format does not allow clubs to transfer from the Champions League into the Europa League from the league phase onwards.
Association team allocation
[edit]A total of 77 teams from between 33 and 40 of the 55 UEFA member associations are expected to participate in the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League. Among them, 33 associations have teams directly qualifying for the Europa League, while for the other 12 associations that do not have any teams directly qualifying may have teams playing after being transferred from the Champions League. The association ranking based on the UEFA association coefficients is used to determine the number of participating teams for each association:[2]
- The title holders of the Conference League were given an entry in the Europa League (if they did not qualify for the Champions League or Europa League via league position).
- Associations 1–12 each have two teams.
- Associations 13–33 (except Russia[Note RUS]) each have one team.
- 32 teams eliminated from the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round will be transferred to the Europa League.
Association ranking
[edit]For the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League, the associations are allocated places according to their 2024 UEFA association coefficients, which takes into account their performance in European competitions from 2019–20 to 2023–24.[3]
Apart from the allocation based on the association coefficients, associations may have additional teams participating in the Europa League, as noted below:
- (UCL) – Additional teams transferred from the UEFA Champions League
- (CON) – Additional teams transferred from the UEFA Conference League
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Distribution
[edit]| Teams entering in this round | Teams advancing from the previous round | Teams transferred from Champions League | ||
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| First qualifying round (16 teams) |
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| Second qualifying round (16 teams) |
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| Third qualifying round (26 teams) |
Champions Path (12 teams) |
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| League Path (14 teams) |
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| Play-off round (24 teams) |
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| League phase (36 teams) |
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| Knockout phase play-offs (16 teams) |
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| Round of 16 (16 teams) |
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The information here reflects the ongoing suspension of Russia in European football, and so the following changes to the default access list have been made:
- The cup winners of association 16 (Denmark) will enter the second qualifying round instead of the first qualifying round.
As the Conference League title holders (Chelsea) qualified for the Champions League league phase via their domestic league's standard berth allocation, the following changes to the default access list have been made:
- Dinamo Zagreb, as the club with the highest club coefficient that would otherwise have entered the qualifying phase or play-off round, will enter the league phase instead of the first qualifying round.
- The cup winners of association 34 (Finland) will enter the first qualifying round, instead of the Conference League second qualifying round.
Teams
[edit]The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round:
- CON: Conference League title holders
- CW: Cup winners
- 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.: League position of the previous season
- RL: Winners of the regular league phase
- CL: Transferred from the Champions League
- CH/LP PO: Losers from the play-off round (Champions/League Path)
- CH/LP Q3: Losers from the third qualifying round (Champions/League Path)
- CH/LP Q2: Losers from the second qualifying round (Champions/League Path)
The third qualifying round is divided into Champions Path (CH) and Main Path (MP).
Notes
- ^ England (ENG): Initially the winners of the 2024–25 FA Cup (Crystal Palace) qualified for the Europa League. However, UEFA ruled[4] that Crystal Palace and Lyon were both part of a group owned by the same company prior to the 1st of March, and as such could not compete in the same competition under UEFA rules (this decision is under appeal).[5] Crystal Palace were thus demoted to the Conference League, and their place in the Europa League was awarded to Nottingham Forest under a swap of European rights. Forest had previously gained entry to the Conference League based on their 2024–25 Premier League position, in lieu of 2024-25 EFL Cup winners Newcastle United who qualified for the Champions League via league position.[6]
- ^ Russia (RUS): On 28 February 2022, Russian football clubs and national teams were suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7] The tables reflect Russia's ongoing suspension from UEFA competitions.[8]
Round and draw dates
[edit]The schedule of the competition is as follows.[9] Matches are scheduled for Thursdays, apart from the final, which takes place on a Wednesday, though exceptionally can take place on Tuesdays or Wednesdays due to scheduling conflicts. One exclusive week will be held where both Wednesday and Thursdays are matchdays, on 24 and 25 September.[10][11][12]
| Phase | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying | First qualifying round | 17 June 2025 | 10 July 2025 | 17 July 2025 |
| Second qualifying round | 18 June 2025 | 24 July 2025 | 31 July 2025 | |
| Third qualifying round | 21 July 2025 | 7 August 2025 | 14 August 2025 | |
| Play-offs | Play-off round | 4 August 2025 | 21 August 2025 | 28 August 2025 |
| League phase | Matchday 1 | 29 August 2025 | 24–25 September 2025 | |
| Matchday 2 | 2 October 2025 | |||
| Matchday 3 | 23 October 2025 | |||
| Matchday 4 | 6 November 2025 | |||
| Matchday 5 | 27 November 2025 | |||
| Matchday 6 | 11 December 2025 | |||
| Matchday 7 | 22 January 2026 | |||
| Matchday 8 | 29 January 2026 | |||
| Knockout phase | Knockout round play-offs | 30 January 2026 | 19 February 2026 | 26 February 2026 |
| Round of 16 | 27 February 2026 | 12 March 2026 | 19 March 2026 | |
| Quarter-finals | 9 April 2026 | 16 April 2026 | ||
| Semi-finals | 30 April 2026 | 7 May 2026 | ||
| Final | 20 May 2026 at Beşiktaş Stadium, Istanbul | |||
Qualifying rounds
[edit]First qualifying round
[edit]The draw for the first qualifying round was held on 17 June 2025. The first legs were played on 10 July, and the second legs were played on 17 July 2025.
The winners of the ties advanced to the second qualifying round. The losers were transferred to the Conference League Main Path second qualifying round.
| Team 1 | Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shakhtar Donetsk  | 6–0 |  Ilves | 6–0 | 0–0 |
Sheriff Tiraspol  | 5–2 |  Prishtina | 4–0 | 1–2 |
Spartak Trnava  | 2–3 |  BK Häcken | 0–1 | 2–2 |
Sabah  | 5–6 |  Celje | 2–3 | 3–3 (a.e.t.) |
Legia Warsaw  | 2–0 |  Aktobe | 1–0 | 1–0 |
Levski Sofia  | 1–1 (3–1 p) |  Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 0–0 | 1–1 (a.e.t.) |
AEK Larnaca  | 2–2 (6–5 p) |  Partizan | 1–0 | 1–2 (a.e.t.) |
Paks  | 0–3 |  CFR Cluj | 0–0 | 0–3 |
Second qualifying round
[edit]The draw for the second qualifying round was held on 18 June 2025. The first legs were played on 24 July and the second legs were played on 31 July 2025.
The winners of the ties advanced to the Main Path third qualifying round. The losers were transferred to the Conference League Main Path third qualifying round.
| Team 1 | Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lugano  | 0–1 | CFR Cluj | 0–0 | 0–1 (a.e.t.) |
| Celje | 2–3 | AEK Larnaca | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Levski Sofia | 0–1 |  Braga | 0–0 | 0–1 (a.e.t.) |
Baník Ostrava  | 3–4 | Legia Warsaw | 2–2 | 1–2 |
Anderlecht  | 2–2 (2–4 p) | BK Häcken | 1–0 | 1–2 (a.e.t.) |
| Sheriff Tiraspol | 2–7 |  Utrecht | 1–3 | 1–4 |
Midtjylland  | 3–2 |  Hibernian | 1–1 | 2–1 (a.e.t.) |
Beşiktaş  | 2–6 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 2–4 | 0–2 |
Third qualifying round
[edit]The draw for the third qualifying round was held on 21 July 2025. The first legs will be played on 5, 6 and 7 August, and the second legs will be played on 12 and 14 August 2025.
The winners of the ties will advance to the play-off round. The losers will be transferred to the Conference League play-off round.
| Team 1 | Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champions Path | ||||
Lincoln Red Imps  | Match 1 |  Noah | 1–1 | 14 Aug |
Rijeka  | Match 2 |  Shelbourne | 1–2 | 12 Aug |
RFS  | Match 3 | KuPS | 1–2 | 14 Aug |
Hamrun Spartans  | Match 4 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1–2 | 14 Aug |
Zrinjski Mostar  | Match 5 |  Breiðablik | 1–1 | 14 Aug |
| FCSB | Match 6 | Drita | 3–2 | 14 Aug |
| Main Path | ||||
| AEK Larnaca | Match 1 | Legia Warsaw | 4–1 | 14 Aug |
Fredrikstad  | Match 2 | Midtjylland | 1–3 | 14 Aug |
| CFR Cluj | Match 3 | Braga | 1–2 | 14 Aug |
PAOK  | Match 4 |  Wolfsberger AC | 0–0 | 14 Aug |
| Servette | Match 5 | Utrecht | 1–3 | 14 Aug |
| BK Häcken | Match 6 | Brann | 0–2 | 14 Aug |
| Panathinaikos | Match 7 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 0–0 | 14 Aug |
Play-off round
[edit]The draw for the play-off round was held on 4 August 2025. The first legs will be played on 21 August, and the second legs will be played on 28 August 2025.
The winners of the ties will advance to the league phase. The losers will be transferred to the Conference League league phase.
| Team 1 | Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner of CH match 4 | Match 1 | Loser of CL Q3 match 5 | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Loser of CL Q3 match 6 | Match 2 | Loser of CL Q3 match 4 | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Loser of CL Q3 match 2 | Match 3 | Young Boys | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Loser of CL Q3 match 1 | Match 4 | Sigma Olomouc | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Winner of MP match 7 | Match 5 | Samsunspor | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Aberdeen | Match 6 | Winner of CH match 6 | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Loser of CL Q3 match 3 | Match 7 | Genk | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Winner of MP match 2 | Match 8 | Winner of CH match 3 | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Winner of CH match 1 | Match 9 | Winner of MP match 3 | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Winner of CH match 5 | Match 10 | Winner of MP match 5 | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Winner of MP match 6 | Match 11 | Winner of MP match 1 | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
| Winner of CH match 2 | Match 12 | Winner of MP match 4 | 21 Aug | 28 Aug |
League phase
[edit]
The league phase draw for the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League takes place on 29 August 2025. The 36 teams will be divided into four pots of nine teams each based on their UEFA club coefficient.
The 36 teams will be manually drawn, and then automated software digitally will draw their eight different opponents at random, determining which of their matches will be at home and which ones away. Each team will face two opponents from each of the four pots, one at home and one away. Teams cannot face opponents from their own association, and can only be drawn against a maximum of two sides from the same association.[13][14]
Aston Villa, Bologna, Go Ahead Eagles and Nottingham Forest will make their debut appearances since the introduction of the group stage (although Aston Villa had previously appeared in the UEFA Cup group stage). Go Ahead Eagles and Nottingham Forest will make their debut appearances in a major UEFA competition group or league phase.
As of 31 July 2025, the following teams have qualified for the league phase:
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Pot 1
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Pot 1/2
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Pot 2
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Pot 2/3/4
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See also
[edit]- 2025–26 UEFA Champions League
- 2025–26 UEFA Conference League
- 2026 UEFA Super Cup
- 2025–26 UEFA Women's Champions League
- 2025–26 UEFA Women's Europa Cup
- 2025–26 UEFA Youth League
References
[edit]- ^ "Budapest to host UEFA Champions League Final 2026". Union of European Football Associations. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Regulations of the UEFA Champions League, 2024/25 Season". Nyon: UEFA. 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Association coefficients 2023/24". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "The CFCB First Chamber renders decision on Crystal Palace and Olympique Lyonnais". UEFA. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Crystal Palace appeal to CAS against Europa League demotion". BBC Sport. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "Why are Forest set to take Palace's place in Europa League?". BBC Sport. BBC News. BBC. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ "Ukraine crisis: Fifa and Uefa suspend all Russian clubs and national teams". BBC.co.uk. British Broadcasting Corporation. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "UEFA decisions for upcoming competitions relating to the ongoing suspension of Russian national teams and clubs" (Press release). Nyon: UEFA. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "UEFA club competitions cycle 2024–27 ("Post 2024")". UEFA Circular Letter. No. 36/2023. Union of European Football Associations. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ UEFA.com (25 October 2023). "New format for Champions League post-2024: Everything you need to know | UEFA Champions League". UEFA. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ Sheldon, Dan. "How the new Champions League format works". The Athletic. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ Dunbar, Graham (10 July 2023). "More national derby games possible when revamped Champions League starts next year". AP News. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ "UEFA Club Competitions 2024/25 onwards: new league phase draw procedures explained". UEFA. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "UEFA Documents – Article 16 Draw system – league phase". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 1 August 2024.