The recent draws for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League have set the stage for an exciting autumn of continental football for several clubs from the United Kingdom. The fixtures were announced on Friday, outlining a full schedule of matches that will run from September 2026 through to the final in May 2027 for the Europa League and June 2027 for the Conference League. Each competition will feature a balanced set of home and away games – eight fixtures for the Europa League participants and six for those in the Conference League – giving every club an equal chance to test themselves on foreign soil and in front of their own supporters. One of the most historic moments from the Europa League draw is Sunderland's return to European competition after a 53‑year absence.
The Black Cats have been paired with the iconic Italian side AC Milan, meaning their first leg will be played at the legendary San Siro stadium in Milan. This is a monumental occasion for Sunderland, whose fans will be eager to see how their team fares against a club with a storied European pedigree.
In a twist of symmetry, Bournemouth, who are embarking on their inaugural European campaign, will host AC Milan at their home ground. The south‑coast club will therefore enjoy the rare experience of meeting the Italian giants on familiar turf, a fixture that promises to be a highlight of their debut season on the continental stage. Celtic, representing the Scottish Premiership, have been drawn into a diverse group that includes French side Marseille, Portuguese powerhouse Benfica, Hungarian side Ferencváros, Belgian outfit Union SG, Spanish club Celta Vigo, Cypriot side Omonia, Turkish giants Besiktas, and Portuguese minnows Torreense.
Their schedule alternates between home and away matches, beginning with a home clash against Marseille and concluding with an away game at Torreense. This varied itinerary will test Celtic’s depth and adaptability across a range of footballing cultures and styles.
Sunderland’s own Europa League itinerary is equally demanding. After an opening home game against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, the Black Cats will travel to Milan for the return leg against AC Milan. Subsequent fixtures see them host Croatian side GNK Dinamo, travel to Belgium to face Anderlecht, host Polish club Jagiellonia, travel to Poland for a match against Lech Poznan, host Bulgarian side Levski Sofia, and finish the group stage with an away game at Torreense.
The breadth of opponents provides Sunderland with a unique learning curve as they navigate the rigors of European football for the first time in over half a century. Bournemouth’s schedule mirrors the same level of challenge. Their group includes AC Milan, Spanish side Real Sociedad, Czech club Viktoria Plzeň, Czech giants Sparta Prague, Austrian side Sturm Graz, Spanish side Celta Vigo, Israeli club Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and Norwegian outfit Lillestrøm. The Cherries will open the campaign by welcoming AC Milan to their stadium, then travel to Spain for a test against Real Sociedad, before alternating between home and away fixtures throughout the group phase.
In the Conference League, 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. Their group stage opponents are a mixture of strong and emerging clubs: French side Monaco, Greek side Panathinaikos, Romanian outfit Universitatea Craiova, Spanish side Getafe, Lithuanian team Kauno Žalgiris, and Czech club Jablonec. Brighton’s toughest match on paper will be the home game against Monaco, a club that regularly competes at the upper echelons of Ligue 1.
Their away trips to Panathinaikos and Getafe will also require tactical flexibility and resilience. Hearts, the Scottish Premiership side owned by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, have drawn a comparable set of opponents. They will host Monaco at Tynecastle, travel to Pafos in Cyprus, host Borac in Bosnia‑Herzegovina, travel to Turkey to face Trabzonspor – a club that boasts the services of Manchester United’s loan goalkeeper André Onana – and then play away matches against Danish side Nordsjælland and Swiss club Thun.
The inclusion of Monaco in both the Brighton and Hearts groups underscores the French club’s prominence in this season’s secondary European competition. Crystal Palace, the defending champions of the Conference League, have a schedule that pits them against Spanish side Real Sociedad at home, a trip to French club Lyon, a home fixture versus Sparta Prague, an away game against Austrian giants Salzburg, a home match against Lech Poznan, an away encounter with Jagiellonia, a home tie with Hoffenheim, and an away match at Besiktas.
Their fixtures reflect the high standard they set as the previous season’s winners and will be keenly watched by supporters hoping for a repeat performance. The calendar for the group stages is clearly laid out.
Europa League matchdays run from 16‑17 September for the opening round, with subsequent rounds on 15 October, 22 October, 5 November, 26 November, 10 December, and the final two matchdays in January 2027 (21 and 28 January). The Conference League follows a slightly later start, with its first matchday on 15 October and the final group match on 17 December. After the group phase, both competitions move into knockout play‑offs in February 2027, followed by the round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals in late April and early May, and culminating in the finals – the Europa League final scheduled for 26 May 2027 at the Frankfurt Stadium in Germany, and the Conference League final set for 2 June 2027 at Besiktas Park in Istanbul, Turkey. For fans who subscribe to Sky Sports, the matches will be available to stream via the Sky Sports app, while those without a Sky subscription can still gain instant access through a flexible, contract‑free option.
This ensures that supporters across the UK can follow their clubs’ European adventures, whether they are cheering from the stands in Milan, watching live from a local pub, or streaming the action on a mobile device. Overall, the draws have produced a compelling mix of classic powerhouses and emerging clubs, offering British teams a chance to showcase their talent on a broader stage. Sunderland’s historic return, Bournemouth’s maiden European foray, Celtic’s diverse itinerary, and Brighton and Hearts’ battles against seasoned continental opponents promise a season rich with narrative, drama, and the potential for unforgettable moments in European football.