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 group stages. Sunderland have been paired with Italian giants AC Milan, while Bournemouth will host the Serie A side at their home ground. Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion and Hearts have also learned who they will meet in the Conference League. The group‑stage draws were conducted on Friday, establishing a schedule that will see each Europa League participant contest eight matches – four at home and four away – and each Conference League side play six games – three at home and three away.
These encounters are slated to run from September 2026 through to January 2027, after which the knockout phases will commence. For Sunderland, this marks a historic moment: the club will be competing in European competition for the first time in 53 years.
Their opening fixture will take them to the iconic San Siro, where they will challenge AC Milan on Italian soil. Bournemouth, on the other hand, are embarking on their inaugural European campaign and will enjoy the advantage of hosting Milan in their first home match.
Celtic’s Europa League itinerary includes a home clash against Olympique de Marseille and an away trip to Marco Silva’s Benfica, among other fixtures. Crystal Palace, the reigning Conference League champions, will host Spain’s Real Sociedad and travel to face Lyon in France. The full list of group opponents for each club is as follows: - Celtic: Marseille (home), Benfica (away), Ferencváros (home), Union Saint‑Gilloise (away), Celta Vigo (home), Omonia Nicosia (away), Beşiktaş (home), Torreense (away). - Sunderland: AZ Alkmaar (home), AC Milan (away), GNK Dinamo Zagreb (home), Anderlecht (away), Jagiellonia Białystok (home), Lech Poznań (away), Levski Sofia (home), Torreense (away).
- Bournemouth: AC Milan (home), Real Sociedad (away), Viktoria Plzeň (home), Sparta Prague (away), Sturm Graz (home), Celta Vigo (away), Hapoel Be’er Sheva (home), Lillestrøm (away). - Crystal Palace: Real Sociedad (home), Lyon (away), Sparta Prague (home), Salzburg (away), Lech Poznań (home), Jagiellonia Białystok (away), Hoffenheim (home), Beşiktaş (away). The Europa League matchdays are set for: - Matchday 1: 16‑17 September - Matchday 2: 15 October - Matchday 3: 22 October - Matchday 4: 5 November - Matchday 5: 26 November - Matchday 6: 10 December - Matchday 7: 21 January 2027 - Matchday 8: 28 January 2027 Following the group phase, the competition will move into the knockout play‑offs on 18 and 25 February 2027, then 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 making their second ever appearance in European football after progressing through qualifying by defeating Tromsø. Their toughest group‑stage test will be a home game against Monaco, with additional challenging away fixtures against Panathinaikos of Greece and Getafe of Spain. Hearts, owned by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom, will also host Monaco and travel to face Trabzonspor – a side that boasts Manchester United’s loan goalkeeper André Onana – as well as other opponents from Cyprus, Denmark and Switzerland. Brighton’s group consists of: Monaco (home), Panathinaikos (away), Universitatea Craiova (home), Getafe (away), Kauno Žalgiris (home), Jablonec (away).
Hearts’ group includes: Monaco (home), Pafos (away), Borac Banja Luka (home), Trabzonspor (away), Nordsjælland (home), Thun (away). The Conference League matchdays run as follows: - Matchday 1: 15 October - Matchday 2: 22 October - Matchday 3: 5 November - Matchday 4: 26 November - Matchday 5: 10 December - Matchday 6: 17 December The knockout phase for the Conference League mirrors the Europa League schedule, 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 a final on 2 June 2027 at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul, Turkey. Fans with a Sky Sports subscription can follow all matches via the Sky Sports app, while non‑subscribers have the option to purchase instant access without a long‑term contract. This comprehensive set of fixtures promises a thrilling autumn and winter of European football for British clubs, offering both historic first‑time appearances and the chance for seasoned sides to defend or improve upon their continental credentials.