The latest draws for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League have been completed, and British clubs now know who they will face in the upcoming group stages. Sunderland have been paired with AC Milan for an away fixture in the Europa League, while Bournemouth will host the Italian giants in their inaugural European campaign. At the same time, Brighton & Hove Albion and Hearts have learned the clubs that will challenge them in the Conference League. The group‑stage draws were conducted on Friday, setting the calendar for both tournaments.
In the Europa League, each of the participating clubs will contest eight matches – four at home and four away – between September 2026 and January 2027. The Conference League follows a similar format, with six games per side – three on home soil and three on foreign turf – over the same period.
Sunderland’s appearance marks a historic moment for the club: it is their first venture into European competition in more than half a century, the last time being 53 years ago. Their first test will be an away trip to the iconic San Siro, where they will meet the storied AC Milan side. Bournemouth, on the other hand, are embarking on their maiden European journey.
Their opening match will be a home tie against the same Serie A powerhouse, giving the Cherries a chance to showcase their ambitions in front of their own supporters. Celtic’s schedule includes a home clash with Olympique de Marseille and an away game at Marco Silva’s Benfica, among the eight fixtures that will define their Europa League campaign. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, who lifted the Conference League trophy last season, will host Spain’s Real Sociedad and travel to face Lyon in France as part of their group programme.
The detailed group allocations are as follows: - Celtic: Marseille (home), Benfica (away), Ferencváros (home), Union SG (away), Celta Vigo (home), Omonia (away), Beşiktaş (home), Torreense (away). - Sunderland: AZ Alkmaar (home), AC Milan (away), GNK Dinamo (home), Anderlecht (away), Jagiellonia (home), Lech Poznań (away), Levski Sofia (home), Torreense (away). - Bournemouth: AC Milan (home), Real Sociedad (away), Viktoria Plzeň (home), Sparta Prague (away), Sturm Graz (home), Celta Vigo (away), Hapoel Be’er Sheva (home), Lillestrøm (away). - Crystal Palace: Real Sociedad (home), Lyon (away), Sparta Prague (home), Salzburg (away), Lech Poznań (home), Jagiellonia (away), Hoffenheim (home), Beşiktaş (away).
The Europa League matchdays are scheduled as follows: Matchday 1 on 16‑17 September, Matchday 2 on 15 October, Matchday 3 on 22 October, Matchday 4 on 5 November, Matchday 5 on 26 November, Matchday 6 on 10 December, followed by two final matchdays in January 2027 (21 and 28 January). The knockout phase will commence with play‑offs on 18 and 25 February 2027, leading to the round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals at the end of April and early May, and the final set for 26 May 2027 at the Stadion Frankfurt in Germany.
Brighton & Hove Albion are back in European competition for only the second time in their history, having secured a place in the Conference League after defeating Tromsø in the qualifying rounds. Their group will prove challenging, with a home fixture against Ligue 1 side Monaco and away trips to Greek club Panathinaikos and Spanish side Getafe.
The Seagulls will also host Universitatea Craiova and Kauno Žalgiris, while traveling to Jablonec for their remaining matches. Hearts, who are owned by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom, will also feature in the Conference League. They will host Monaco, mirroring Brighton’s schedule, and travel to face Trabzonspor – a team that includes Manchester United’s loan goalkeeper André Onana – as well as Pafos, Borac, Nordsjælland and Thun.
Their match calendar mirrors Brighton’s, with six group games spread across October, November and December. For fans without a Sky Sports subscription, the matches can be streamed via the Sky Sports app, and a no‑contract instant access option is available for those who prefer a more flexible viewing arrangement. The Conference League’s timetable aligns closely with the Europa League’s, with matchdays on 15 October, 22 October, 5 November, 26 November, 10 December and 17 December. The knockout phase will begin with play‑offs on 18 and 25 February 2027, followed by the round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals at the end of April and early May, and the final slated for 2 June 2027 at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul, Turkey.
These draws set the stage for a thrilling autumn of European football, offering British clubs the chance to test themselves against some of the continent’s most storied teams. Whether it is Sunderland’s historic return, Bournemouth’s debut, Celtic’s pursuit of continental glory, or Brighton and Hearts battling for progression in the Conference League, the upcoming fixtures promise drama, travel, and the opportunity for memorable moments on the European stage.