The latest draws for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League have been completed, unveiling the fixtures that British clubs will face in the upcoming season. Sunderland will embark on a historic trip to Milan to take on AC Milan in the Europa League, while Bournemouth, making their debut in European competition, will host the Italian giants at their home ground.
Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion and Heart of Midlothian have learned who they will meet in the Conference League group stage. The group‑stage draws were conducted on Friday, setting the calendar for both tournaments. Europa League participants will contest eight matches each – four at home and four away – between September 2026 and January 2027.
Conference League clubs will play six matches each – three at home and three away – over the same period. The schedule ensures a balanced home‑and‑away format for all sides. Sunderland’s qualification marks a remarkable milestone: it is the club’s first appearance in a European competition in 53 years.
Their first fixture will be an away game at the iconic San Siro, where they will meet AC Milan, a club steeped in continental history. Conversely, Bournemouth, who have never before taken part in Europe, will enjoy the advantage of hosting Milan for their inaugural European match, offering their supporters a chance to witness a top‑flight Italian side on English soil.
Celtic have been drawn into a challenging Europa League group that sees them host Olympique de Marseille before traveling to face Marco Silva’s Benfica. Their full itinerary includes fixtures against Ferencváros, Union Saint‑Gilloise, Celta Vigo, Omonia, Besiktas, and Torreense, alternating between home and away venues.
Sunderland’s group features AZ Alkmaar at home, AC Milan away, Dinamo Zagreb at home, Anderlecht away, Jagiellonia Białystok at home, Lech Poznań away, Levski Sofia at home, and Torreense away. Bournemouth’s Europa League schedule pits them against AC Milan at home, then a trip to Real Sociedad, followed by matches versus Viktoria Plzeň, Sparta Prague, Sturm Graz, Celta Vigo, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and Lillestrøm. Crystal Palace, the defending Conference League champions, will host La Liga side Real Sociedad and travel to face Lyon, with additional fixtures against Sparta Prague, Salzburg, Lech Poznań, Jagiellonia, Hoffenheim, and Besiktas. The match calendar for the Europa League group stage is 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, Matchday 7 on 21 January 2027, and Matchday 8 on 28 January 2027.
The knockout phase will commence 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 scheduled for 26 May 2027 at Stadion Frankfurt in Germany. Brighton & Hove Albion are back in Europe for only the second time in their history after navigating a successful qualifying campaign that saw them defeat Tromsø to reach the Conference League group stage. Their group presents a demanding set of opponents: they will host Ligue 1 champions Monaco, travel to Greek side Panathinaikos, host Universitatea Craiova, travel to La Liga’s Getafe, host Kauno Žalgiris, and travel to Jablonec.
Brighton’s manager Fabian Hurzeler has warned that the Monaco fixture will be the toughest test of the league phase, while the away trips to Panathinaikos and Getafe will also require careful preparation. Heart of Midlothian, owned by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom, have also secured a place in the Conference League. Hearts will host Monaco in their opening match, then travel to Pafos, host Borac, travel to Trabzonspor – a side featuring Mohamed Salah’s former club and Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana on loan – and conclude the group with fixtures against Nordsjælland and Thun.
The Conference League matchdays are set for 15 October (Matchday 1), 22 October (Matchday 2), 5 November (Matchday 3), 26 November (Matchday 4), 10 December (Matchday 5), and 17 December (Matchday 6). The knockout phase mirrors the Europa League schedule, with play‑offs on 18 and 25 February 2027, round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals at the end of April and early May, and a final on 2 June 2027 at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul, Turkey. Fans of the British clubs now have a clear view of the road ahead.
Whether it is Sunderland’s nostalgic return to continental football, Bournemouth’s maiden European adventure, Celtic’s battle against seasoned European sides, or Brighton and Hearts testing themselves against clubs from France, Greece, Romania, and Turkey, the upcoming months promise a blend of excitement, challenge, and the chance for British teams to make their mark on the European stage. Viewers can follow the action live on the Sky Sports app, or gain instant access without a contract for those without a Sky subscription.