The Europa League is heating up as the knockout phase approaches, with teams across Europe discovering their next opponents in the play-off draw. Following a dramatic league phase finale, British sides have secured their places, setting the stage for an exciting round of fixtures.
When is the Europa League Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw?
The 2025/26 Europa League knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled to commence at 12pm GMT on Friday 30 January. The event will be held in Nyon, Switzerland, and will feature teams that finished between ninth and 24th place in the league phase. Notably, the top eight sides have already qualified automatically for the last 16, bypassing this initial knockout round.
How Can I Watch the Europa League Draw?
Football fans can tune in to watch the draw live through multiple platforms. Uefa's official website and the Europa League app will provide a live stream of the proceedings. Additionally, Independent Sport will host a live blog, offering real-time updates on the results and immediate reaction as the draw unfolds.
Which Teams Are in the Europa League Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw?
A total of 16 teams have qualified for the Europa League knockout phase play-off draw, including a significant portion of the remaining British contingent. The teams are divided into seeded and unseeded categories based on their league phase finishes.
Seeded Teams:
- 9. Genk (Belgium)
- 10. Bologna (Italy)
- 11. Stuttgart (Germany)
- 12. Ferencvaros (Hungary)
- 13. Nottingham Forest (England)
- 14. Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)
- 15. Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
- 16. Celta Vigo (Spain)
Unseeded Teams:
- 17. PAOK (Greece)
- 18. Lille (France)
- 19. Fenerbahce (Turkey)
- 20. Panathinaikos (Greece)
- 21. Celtic (Scotland)
- 22. Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria)
- 23. Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
- 24. Brann (Norway)
How Will the Europa League Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw Work?
The draw mechanism pairs clubs based on their league phase positions, creating four seeded pairs and four unseeded pairs. The seeded pairs consist of positions 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, and 15 and 16. Conversely, the unseeded pairs are formed from positions 17 and 18, 19 and 20, 21 and 22, and 23 and 24.
Each seeded pair will be drawn against an unseeded pair in a specific configuration: clubs 9 or 10 face clubs 23 or 24, clubs 11 or 12 meet clubs 21 or 22, clubs 13 or 14 take on clubs 19 or 20, and clubs 15 or 16 compete against clubs 17 or 18. It is important to note that teams from the same national association or those that have previously met in the league phase are eligible to play each other in these play-offs.
When Will the Knockout Phase Play-Off Ties Take Place?
The play-off ties will be contested over two legs, with the seeded team hosting the return leg. The first legs are scheduled for 19 February, followed by the second legs on 26 February. This format ensures a balanced competition as teams vie for a spot in the next round.
When is the Round of 16 Draw?
The eight teams that successfully advance from the knockout phase play-offs will join the directly qualified sides in the round of 16 draw. This subsequent draw is set to occur on Friday 27 February, determining the matchups for the next stage of the tournament.
What Will the Round of 16 Ties Look Like?
Based on the current draw structure, the round of 16 fixtures have been pre-determined. The combinations are as follows:
- Stuttgart or Ferencvaros will face Celtic or Ludogorets Razgrad, with the winner set to meet Porto or Braga.
- Nottingham Forest or Viktoria Plzen will take on Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos, with the victor advancing to play Midtjylland or Real Betis.
- Red Star Belgrade or Celta Vigo will compete against PAOK or Lille, with the successful team moving on to face Lyon or Aston Villa.
As the Europa League progresses, these fixtures promise thrilling encounters, with British clubs like Nottingham Forest and Celtic aiming to make their mark in European football.
