The latest draws for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League have been completed, and several English and Scottish clubs now know who they will face in the upcoming group stages. Sunderland will travel to the iconic San Siro to take on AC Milan in the Europa League, while Bournemouth, making their debut in European football, will host the Italian giants in their own backyard. Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion and Heart of Midlothian have learned the opponents that await them in the Conference League, adding another layer of excitement to their continental campaigns. The group‑stage draws were conducted on Friday, setting the schedule for the two tournaments that will run from September 2026 through January 2027.
In the Europa League, each of the participating clubs will play eight matches – four at home and four away – while the Conference League teams will contest six games – three at home and three away. This format ensures a balanced set of fixtures for all sides involved. Sunderland’s qualification marks a historic moment for the club, as it is their first appearance in a European competition in more than half a century. The Black Cats will embark on a trip to Milan’s legendary San Siro stadium, where they will meet a side that boasts a record of domestic and continental success.
In contrast, Bournemouth’s entry into Europe is a first‑time experience for the Cherries. Their inaugural home fixture will see them welcome AC Milan, offering the club and its supporters a chance to test themselves against one of the continent’s most storied teams.
Celtic have also drawn a challenging group. The Scottish champions will host Olympique de Marseille in their first home fixture and will later travel to face Marco Silva’s Benfica in Portugal. Their full Europa League itinerary includes matches against Ferencváros in Hungary, Union Saint‑Gilloise in Belgium, Celta Vigo in Spain, Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus, Beşiktaş in Turkey, and Torreense in Portugal.
This diverse slate of opponents provides Celtic with a mix of tactical styles and environments to navigate. Crystal Palace, the reigning Conference League champions, will defend their title with a schedule that pits them against Real Sociedad from LaLiga at home and Lyon from Ligue 1 away. Additional fixtures include trips to Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic, Salzburg in Austria, Lech Poznań in Poland, Jagiellonia Białystok in Poland, Hoffenheim in Germany, and Beşiktaş in Turkey.
Their campaign will test the resilience of a squad that lifted the trophy just a season ago. The detailed match calendar for the Europa League 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 on 26 May 2027 at the Stadion Frankfurt in Germany. Brighton & Hove Albion are embarking on their second European adventure after securing a place in the Conference League by defeating Tromsø in the qualifying rounds.
Their group‑stage draw places them against a formidable set of opponents: Ligue 1 side Monaco at home, Greek club Panathinaikos away, Romanian side Universitatea Craiova at home, LaLiga’s Getafe away, Lithuanian club Kauno Žalgiris at home, and Czech side Jablonec away. The Seagulls will need to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair to progress.
Heart of Midlothian, owned by Brighton’s chairman Tony Bloom, will also compete in the Conference League. Their fixtures include a home match against Monaco, an away game versus Pafos in Cyprus, a home clash with Borac Banja Luka, an away encounter with Trabzonspor – a team featuring former Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana on loan – a home tie against Nordsjælland in Denmark, and an away fixture against Thun in Switzerland. The Hearts will be looking to replicate the success of their English counterparts and make a deep run.
The Conference League schedule mirrors the Europa League’s structure, with Matchday 1 on 15 October, Matchday 2 on 22 October, Matchday 3 on 5 November, Matchday 4 on 26 November, Matchday 5 on 10 December, and Matchday 6 on 17 December. The knockout phase will follow a similar timeline, with play‑offs in February 2027, round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals at the end of April and early May, and the final set for 2 June 2027 at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul, Turkey. For fans who subscribe to Sky Sports, all matches will be available for live streaming via the Sky Sports app.
Those without a Sky subscription can still gain instant access to the games through a flexible, contract‑free option, ensuring that supporters can follow their clubs throughout the European campaign. In summary, the draws have set the stage for an exciting autumn of football across both competitions. Sunderland and Bournemouth will test themselves against Italian heavyweights, Celtic will navigate a varied group featuring clubs from France, Portugal, Hungary, Belgium, Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, and Portugal again, while Brighton and Hearts will battle a mix of Mediterranean and Eastern European sides in the Conference League.
The upcoming fixtures promise a blend of tactical intrigue, travel challenges, and the chance for British clubs to make a lasting impression on the continental stage.