The recent draws for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League have handed British clubs a clear picture of who they will face in the upcoming group stages, and the fixtures promise a mixture of historic match‑ups and first‑time encounters. Sunderland, making a return to European football after a half‑century‑long absence, have been drawn away to Italian giants AC Milan at the iconic San Siro.
In contrast, Bournemouth, who are embarking on their inaugural European campaign, will host the same Milan side at their home ground, turning the fixture into a unique double‑header for the Italian club. The draws, which took place on Friday, set the schedule for both competitions. Europa League participants will contest eight matches each – four at home and four away – while Conference League teams will play six matches, also split evenly between home and away venues.
These games are slated to run from September 2026 through to January 2027, after which the knockout phases will commence. Sunderland’s journey back to continental competition is a milestone: the club last appeared in Europe 53 years ago. Their itinerary includes a home game against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, a return leg against AC Milan, and further trips to face GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Anderlecht, Jagiellonia Białystok, Lech Poznań, Levski Sofia and Torreense. Each opponent presents a distinct tactical challenge, ranging from the technical flair of the Dutch Eredivisie to the physicality of Eastern European leagues.
Bournemouth’s schedule is equally demanding. After welcoming AC Milan, the Cherries will travel to Spain to meet Real Sociedad, then host Viktoria Plzeň before heading to the Czech Republic for a clash with Sparta Prague. Their later fixtures include a home game against Sturm Graz, an away match with Celta de Vigo, a showdown with Hapoel Be’er Sheva on their own turf, and a final group‑stage trip to Norway’s Lillestrøm. For a club making its first foray into European competition, the breadth of opposition offers a valuable learning curve and a chance to test the squad against varied playing styles.
In the Europa League, Scottish giants Celtic will host Olympique de Marseille before traveling to face Benfica under Marco Silva’s management. Their full slate also includes fixtures against Ferencváros, Union SG, Celta Vigo, Omonia, Besiktas and Torreense, providing a blend of Southern European flair and Central European grit. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, the reigning Conference League champions, will host La Liga side Real Sociedad and then journey to France for a match against Lyon, before meeting Sparta Prague, Salzburg, Lech Poznań, Jagiellonia, Hoffenheim and Besiktas in the latter stages of the group phase.
The schedule outlines specific matchdays for the Europa League: the first round of games kicks off on 16‑17 September, followed by subsequent matchdays on 15 October, 22 October, 5 November, 26 November, 10 December, and the final two rounds in late January 2027 (21 and 28 January). After the group stage, the competition moves into the knockout play‑offs on 18 and 25 February 2027, the round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals at the end of April and early May, and culminates with the final on 26 May 2027 at the Stadion Frankfurt in Germany.
Brighton & Hove Albion are also back in Europe, this time in the Conference League, marking only their second appearance in a continental tournament after qualifying by defeating Tromsø in the preliminaries. Their group stage opponents include Monaco, Panathinaikos, Universitatea Craiova, Getafe, Kauno Žalgiris and Jablonec. The Seagulls will host the French Ligue 1 side Monaco in what promises to be their toughest home test, while also preparing for away trips to Greece’s Panathinaikos and Spain’s Getafe, both of which pose distinct tactical puzzles. Hearts, the Scottish Premiership club owned by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, have also drawn Monaco as a home opponent and will travel to face Trabzonspor, a side featuring former Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana on loan.
Their remaining fixtures involve matches against Pafos, Borac, Nordsjælland and Thun, offering a balanced mix of Mediterranean and Balkan footballing styles. The Conference League matchdays are set for 15 October, 22 October, 5 November, 26 November, 10 December and 17 December, after which the competition will shift to the knockout play‑offs on 18 and 25 February 2027. The subsequent rounds follow a similar timetable to the Europa League, with the round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals at the end of April and early May, and the final scheduled for 2 June 2027 at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul, Turkey. For fans looking to follow the action, matches will be streamed via the Sky Sports app for subscribers, while non‑subscribers can obtain instant access without a long‑term contract.
This comprehensive set of fixtures not only highlights the growing presence of British clubs on the European stage but also underscores the diverse challenges they will encounter across Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Greece, Poland, Austria, Norway and beyond. The upcoming months promise a thrilling blend of historic rivalries, debut encounters, and the chance for clubs like Sunderland and Bournemouth to carve their names into European football history.