The Europa League is reaching a pivotal moment as the league phase concludes, setting the stage for the highly anticipated knockout phase play-off draw. With the final round of fixtures complete, teams across Europe are poised to discover their fate in the competition's next critical stage.
When and Where is the Europa League Play-Off Draw?
The draw for the 2025/26 Europa League knockout phase play-offs is scheduled to commence at 12:00 PM GMT on Friday, 30 January 2026. This significant event will be held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, marking a key milestone in the tournament's progression.
How to Watch the Draw Live
Football enthusiasts can follow the draw proceedings through multiple channels. UEFA's official website and the dedicated Europa League app will provide a live stream of the event. Additionally, Independent Sport will host a comprehensive live blog, offering real-time updates on the draw results and immediate reaction from across the football world.
Teams Qualified for the Knockout Phase
As the league phase concludes, nineteen clubs have secured their places in either the round of 16 or the upcoming play-offs, with their final positions to be determined by Thursday's fixtures. The following teams have confirmed their participation in the knockout phase:
- Ferencvaros
- Freiburg
- Midtjylland
- Real Betis
- Bologna
- Braga
- Celta Vigo
- Crvena Zvezda
- Fenerbahce
- Genk
- Nottingham Forest
- Panathinaikos
- PAOK
- Porto
- Roma
- Stuttgart
- Viktoria Plzen
Aston Villa and Lyon have already guaranteed their spots in the round of 16, where they will be joined by six other direct qualifiers. Meanwhile, Rangers, Sturm Graz, Nice, Utrecht, Malmo, and Maccabi Tel-Aviv have been eliminated from the competition.
Draw Mechanics and Pairings
The play-off draw operates on a structured seeding system based on league phase positions. Clubs are paired as follows:
- Seeded Pairs: Positions 9 & 10, 11 & 12, 13 & 14, and 15 & 16.
- Unseeded Pairs: Positions 17 & 18, 19 & 20, 21 & 22, and 23 & 24.
Each seeded pair will be drawn against an unseeded pair, with specific match-ups determined by the draw. Notably, teams from the same national association or those that have previously met in the league phase are eligible to face each other in the play-offs.
Play-Off and Round of 16 Schedule
The knockout phase play-off ties will be contested over two legs, with the seeded team hosting the return match. The first legs are set for 19 February 2026, followed by the second legs on 26 February 2026.
Following the play-offs, the draw for the round of 16 will take place on Friday, 27 February 2026. This draw will include the eight play-off winners alongside the teams that qualified directly from the league phase, setting the stage for the competition's latter stages.
