The latest draws for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League have been completed, and British clubs now know which opponents they will face in the upcoming group stages. Sunderland will embark on a historic trip to Milan to meet AC Milan in the Europa League, while Bournemouth, making their debut in European competition, will host the Italian giants at their home ground.
In the Conference League, Brighton and Hearts have also learned the teams that will challenge them in their respective groups. The group-stage draws were conducted on Friday, setting the schedule 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 – three at home and three away – over the same period.
The fixtures are spread across several matchdays, with the first round kicking off in mid‑September and the final group matches taking place in late January. Sunderland’s qualification marks a remarkable moment for the club, as it is their first appearance in a European competition in 53 years. Their opening fixture will see them travel to the iconic San Siro stadium to take on AC Milan, a club with a storied history in continental football.
Conversely, Bournemouth will enjoy the privilege of hosting AC Milan in their own stadium, providing a thrilling debut for the club on the European stage. Celtic have been drawn into a group that includes Marseille at home and a trip to Benfica, managed by Marco Silva. Their eight‑match Europa League itinerary also features fixtures against Ferencvaros, Union SG, Celta Vigo, Omonia, Besiktas and Torreense, alternating between home and away venues. Sunderland’s group features Dutch side AZ Alkmaar at home, AC Milan away, GNK Dinamo at home, Anderlecht away, Jagiellonia at home, Lech Poznan away, Levski Sofia at home and Torreense away.
Bournemouth’s schedule is equally demanding: they will host AC Milan, travel to Real Sociedad, host Viktoria Plzen, travel to Sparta Prague, host Sturm Graz, travel to Celta, host Hapoel Be'er Sheva and travel to Lillestrom. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, the reigning Conference League champions, will host Real Sociedad and travel to Lyon, then host Sparta Prague, travel to Salzburg, host Lech Poznan, travel to Jagiellonia, host Hoffenheim and travel to Besiktas. The match calendar for the Europa League groups is as follows: Matchday 1 on September 16/17, Matchday 2 on October 15, Matchday 3 on October 22, Matchday 4 on November 5, Matchday 5 on November 26, Matchday 6 on December 10, Matchday 7 on January 21, 2027, and Matchday 8 on January 28, 2027. The knockout phase will begin with play‑offs on February 18 and 25, 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 May 26, 2027, at Stadion Frankfurt in Germany.
Brighton are returning to European competition for only the second time in their history after a successful qualifying campaign that saw them defeat Tromso to reach the Conference League group stage. Their group, drawn by Fabian Hürzeler, pits them against strong opposition: they will host Monaco in a high‑profile opening match, travel to Greece to face Panathinaikos, host Romanian side Universitatea Craiova, travel to Spain to meet Getafe, host Lithuanian club Kauno Žalgiris and travel to the Czech Republic to play Jablonec. These fixtures promise a blend of tactical challenges and diverse playing styles. Hearts, the Scottish Premiership side owned by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom, have also been drawn into a competitive Conference League group.
They will host Monaco, travel to Pafos, host Borac, travel to Trabzonspor – a team featuring Mohamed Salah’s former club and Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana on loan – host Nordsjælland and travel to Thun. The inclusion of clubs from Cyprus, Bosnia, Turkey, Denmark and Switzerland adds a wide geographic spread to their schedule.
The Conference League matchdays are set for October 15, October 22, November 5, November 26, December 10 and December 17. The knockout phase mirrors the Europa League timetable, with play‑offs on February 18 and 25, 2027, round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals at the end of April and early May, and the final slated for June 2, 2027, at Besiktas Park in Istanbul, Turkey.
For fans eager to follow the action, Sky Sports will broadcast the matches via its app, while non‑subscribers can obtain instant access without a long‑term contract. The draws not only set the competitive landscape for the coming months but also highlight the growing presence of British clubs across Europe’s secondary tournaments, offering valuable experience and the chance to compete against some of the continent’s most respected teams.