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, travelling to the iconic San Siro for their first European outing in more than half a century, while Bournemouth, making their debut in continental competition, will welcome the Italian giants at their home ground. In the Conference League, Brighton & Hove Albion and Hearts have also learned the identities of their group opponents, setting the scene for a busy autumn of football across the continent. The draws took place on Friday and determined the full schedule 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 – three on home soil and three on foreign turf – slated for the same period. These fixtures will be followed by a series of knockout rounds that culminate in finals in May and June 2027.
Sunderland's historic return to European competition after a 53‑year absence is a landmark moment for the club and its supporters. Their first fixture will see them travel to Milan’s legendary San Siro stadium to take on AC Milan, a side with a storied European pedigree.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, will host AC Milan in their inaugural European match, offering a unique opportunity for the club’s fans to witness a top‑flight Italian side on English soil. Both clubs will also face a range of other opponents throughout the group phase.
Sunderland’s group includes AZ Alkmaar, GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Anderlecht, Jagiellonia Bialystok, Lech Poznań, Levski Sofia and Torreense, while Bournemouth’s schedule features Real Sociedad, Viktoria Plzeň, Sparta Prague, Sturm Graz, Celta Vigo, Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Lillestrøm. In the Europa League, Celtic have been drawn against Marseille at home and will travel to face Benfica, managed by Marco Silva, among their eight matches.
Their full list of opponents also comprises Ferencváros, Union Saint‑Gilloise, Celta Vigo, Omonia, Beşiktaş and Torreense. Crystal Palace, the defending Conference League champions, will host Real Sociedad and travel to Lyon, with additional fixtures against Sparta Prague, Salzburg, Lech Poznań, Jagiellonia Bialystok, Hoffenheim and Beşiktaş. The match calendar is tightly packed. Group‑stage Matchday 1 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 on 21 January and 28 January 2027.
The knockout phase begins with play‑offs on 18 and 25 February 2027, leading into a Round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals at the end of April and early May, and the grand finale on 26 May 2027 at the Frankfurt Stadium in Germany. Brighton & Hove Albion are embarking on their second ever European campaign after overcoming Tromsø in the qualifying rounds to secure a place in the Conference League group stage.
Managed by Fabian Hürzeler, Brighton will face a challenging set of opponents, starting with a home tie against Monaco, a strong side from Ligue 1. Their away fixtures include a trip to Greek club Panathinaikos and a clash with Spain’s Getafe, while additional matches see them travel to Romania’s Universitatea Craiova, Lithuania’s Kauno Žalgiris and the Czech Republic’s Jablonec. Hearts, owned by Brighton’s chief Tony Bloom, have also been drawn into the Conference League and will host Monaco in their opening game. Their itinerary also features a visit to Pafos in Cyprus, a home match against Borac Banja Luka, an away encounter with Trabzonspor – a team featuring Manchester United’s loan goalkeeper André Onana – and further trips to Denmark’s Nordsjælland and Switzerland’s Thun.
The Conference League matchdays for both Brighton and Hearts run from 15 October through to 17 December, with play‑offs scheduled for 18 and 25 February 2027, followed by the same knockout timeline as the Europa League, culminating in a final on 2 June 2027 at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul. For fans wishing to follow the action, Sky Sports will broadcast the matches via its app, while those without a Sky subscription can obtain instant, contract‑free access through the provider’s streaming service. The draws not only set the sporting agenda but also highlight the growing presence of British clubs on the European stage, offering supporters a chance to see their teams test themselves against some of the continent’s most historic and competitive sides.