Friday's Europa League league phase draw in Monaco will set the stage for another season of European football's second-tier club competition, with 36 teams eventually entering the hat when the draw gets under way at 12:00 BST on 28 August.

Only 20 of those sides have been confirmed at this point. The remaining places will be filled by losers from the final round of Champions League qualifying and winners from the corresponding Europa League qualifying round, meaning some pot assignments are still subject to change depending on results across the continent this week.

How the league phase works

The format mirrors the Champions League's league phase structure. Every team plays eight matches — four at home, four away — against eight different opponents drawn from across the four pots. Crucially, no side can be drawn against a club from the same country. The top eight at the end of the league phase go straight to the round of 16, positions ninth to 24th enter a play-off knockout round, and the 12 sides finishing between 25th and 36th are eliminated.

Who is in each pot?

Pot placements are determined by UEFA's club coefficient rankings, calculated over the five-season period ending at the conclusion of 2025-26.

Pot one already features seven confirmed names: Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, AC Milan, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Real Sociedad and Marseille. The loser of the Champions League qualifying tie between Fenerbahçe and Lyon is guaranteed a pot one place. Portuguese side Benfica could claim the final pot one spot, provided they beat Danish outfit AGF in qualifying.

Pot two includes Scottish champions Celtic, along with Sparta Prague and Rennes. Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise are likely to land in pot two, though pot one remains a possibility for them.

Where do the British clubs sit?

Three English clubs — Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth and Sunderland — are all set to enter the draw, most likely into pot three, though a pot two placement cannot be completely ruled out depending on how the remaining qualifying spots are allocated. It is a notable landmark for Sunderland, who have been absent from European competition for many years, while Palace and Bournemouth represent a continuation of their upward trajectory in recent seasons.

Celtic's position is the most concrete of the British contingent. The Glasgow club are confirmed in pot two, which guarantees them fixtures against sides of reasonable quality from across Europe without facing the very toughest opponents in pot one from the outset.

Confirmed pot breakdown (as of 28 August)

  • Pot one: Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, AC Milan, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Real Sociedad, Marseille, loser of Fenerbahçe vs Lyon (guaranteed)
  • Pot one or two: Union Saint-Gilloise
  • Pot two: Celtic, Sparta Prague, Rennes
  • Pot two or three: Sturm Graz, Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth, Sunderland
  • Pot three or four: Celta Vigo, TSG Hoffenheim, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, NEC Nijmegen, Torreense

A host of further qualifying results — including ties involving Red Star Belgrade, Anderlecht, Benfica, Lech Poznań and Besiktas, among others — will determine the identities and pot placements of the remaining 16 participants.

The draw itself promises to be an intriguing watch for supporters of the British clubs involved. Celtic will be eyeing a competitive but manageable group of fixtures; Palace, Bournemouth and Sunderland will hope to avoid an overwhelming schedule of pot one opposition on top of their Premier League and Championship commitments. With the market already reacting to the likely pot positions, expect plenty of debate between now and Friday lunchtime about which draws each club would favour most.

Frequently asked

When is the Europa League 2026-27 draw and where is it held?
The Europa League league phase draw takes place on Friday, 28 August 2026 at 12:00 BST in Monaco.
Which English clubs are in the 2026-27 Europa League?
Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth and Sunderland have all qualified for the 2026-27 Europa League league phase. All three are expected to be placed in pot three, though a pot two placement remains possible.
How does the Europa League league phase format work?
Each of the 36 teams plays eight matches against eight different opponents — four at home and four away. The top eight progress directly to the round of 16, teams finishing ninth to 24th enter a play-off round, and those between 25th and 36th are eliminated.