The seeding pots for the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League league phases divide each competition’s 36 participating clubs based on their five-season UEFA coefficient rankings. In the Europa League, the 36 teams are split into four pots of nine, with every club drawn to play two opponents from each pot (one at home and one away) for a total of eight matches. In contrast, the Conference League organises its 36 teams into six pots of six clubs, resulting in a six-match schedule where each side plays one opponent from each pot (three home and three away). Under UEFA guidelines for both draws, teams from the same national association cannot face one another in the league phase, ensuring broad cross-continental matchups before the top eight teams in each competition automatically qualify for their respective Round of 16 stages.
Confirmed Europa League pots
Pot 1
Leverkusen (GER)
Benfica (POR)
Juventus (ITA)
Milan (ITA)
Lyon (FRA)
AZ Alkmaar (NED)
Olympiacos (GRE)
Real Sociedad (ESP)
Marseille (FRA)
Pot 2
Ferencvaros (HUN)
Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Union SG (BEL)
GNK Dinamo (CRO)
Salzburg (AUT)
Celtic (SCO)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Rennes (FRA)
Anderlecht (BEL)
Pot 3
Sturm Graz (AUT)
Lech Poznan (POL)
Crystal Palace (ENG)
Bournemouth (ENG)
Sunderland (ENG)
Celje (SVN)
Jagiellonia (POL)
Omonia (CYP)
Celta (ESP)
Pot 4
Hoffenheim (GER)
Besiktas (TUR)
Torreense (POR)
H. Beer-Sheva (ISR)
N.E.C. (NED)
OFI Crete (GRE)
Lillestrøm (NOR)
Levski Sofia (BUL)
Ararat-Armenia (ARM)
Europa League match schedule
Matchday 1: 16/17 September 2026
Matchday 2: 15 October 2026
Matchday 3: 22 October 2026
Matchday 4: 5 November 2026
Matchday 5: 26 November 2026
Matchday 6: 10 December 2026
Matchday 7: 21 January 2027
Matchday 8: 28 January 2027
When is the Conference League draw?
The Conference League draw will follow the Europa League draw, so could be started at around 1pm BST. The draw will also be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.
Confirmed Conference League pots
Pot 1
Atalanta (ITA)
Braga (POR)
Ajax (NED)
Freiburg (GER)
Monaco (FRA)
Copenhagen (DEN)
Pot 2
Midtjylland (DEN)
Red Star Belgrade (SRB
Gent (BEL)
Panathinaikos (GRE)
Pafos (CYP)
Brighton & Hove Albion (ENG)
Pot 3
Lugano (SUI)
Getafe (ESP)
Finland KuPS (FIN)
Netherlands Twente (NED)
Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
Borac Banja Luka (BOS)
Pot 4
Sint-Truiden (BEL)
Brann (NOR)
Heart of Midlothian (SCO)
Kairat (KAZ)
Trabzonspor (TUR)
U Craiova (ROM)
Pot 5
Riga (LAT)
Hajduk Split (CRO)
Jablonec (CZE)
Nordsjælland (DEN)
AGF (DEN)
Inter Club d’Escaldes (AND)
Pot 6
Thun (SUI)
CSKA Sofia (BUL)
Kauno Žalgiris (LIT)
Mjällby (SWE)
Iberia 1999 (GEO)
Egnatia (ALB)