Headline: European Football Draws Set for Bournemouth, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, and Celtic
The draw for the Europa League, featuring Bournemouth, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, and Celtic, will take place later today. This marks a historic moment for Bournemouth, as they qualify for European competition for the first time. Sunderland, meanwhile, returns to continental action after a lengthy absence since 1974.
Crystal Palace aims to enhance their European credentials following their win in last season’s Conference League, ensuring that three Premier League teams participate in the upcoming Europa League. Celtic experienced an unfortunate exit from the Champions League play-off against LASK, prompting their drop into the Europa League.
British teams face the possibility of matching up against top European clubs such as Juventus, AC Milan, Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Lyon, and Real Sociedad in today’s draw. Additionally, the Conference League draw featuring Brighton and Heart of Midlothian will occur shortly after.
When is the Europa League draw?
The Europa League draw is scheduled to start at 12pm BST on Friday, 28 August. The first draw could take place around 12:30pm. Viewers can watch the proceedings on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max in the UK, the official broadcasters partnered with Prime Video for the Champions League. The draw will determine the match-ups for the 36-team first phase, with each club playing against teams from four different pots. Each team will host half of their matches.
Confirmed Europa League pots
Pot 1
- Leverkusen (GER)
- Benfica (POR)
- Juventus (ITA)
- Milan (ITA)
- Lyon (FRA)
- AZ Alkmaar (NED)
- Olympiacos (GRE)
- Real Sociedad (ESP)
- Marseille (FRA)
Pot 2
- Ferencvaros (HUN)
- Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
- Union SG (BEL)
- GNK Dinamo (CRO)
- Salzburg (AUT)
- Celtic (SCO)
- Sparta Praha (CZE)
- Rennes (FRA)
- Anderlecht (BEL)
Pot 3
- Sturm Graz (AUT)
- Lech Poznan (POL)
- Crystal Palace (ENG)
- Bournemouth (ENG)
- Sunderland (ENG)
- Celje (SVN)
- Jagiellonia (POL)
- Omonia (CYP)
- Celta (ESP)
Pot 4
- Hoffenheim (GER)
- Besiktas (TUR)
- Torreense (POR)
- H. Beer-Sheva (ISR)
- N.E.C. (NED)
- OFI Crete (GRE)
- Lillestrøm (NOR)
- Levski Sofia (BUL)
- Ararat-Armenia (ARM)
Europa League match schedule
Matchday 1: 16/17 September 2026
Matchday 2: 15 October 2026
Matchday 3: 22 October 2026
Matchday 4: 5 November 2026
Matchday 5: 26 November 2026
Matchday 6: 10 December 2026
Matchday 7: 21 January 2027
Matchday 8: 28 January 2027
When is the Conference League draw?
The Conference League draw will follow the Europa League draw and is expected to commence around 1pm BST, also aired on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.
Confirmed Conference League pots
Pot 1
- Atalanta (ITA)
- Braga (POR)
- Ajax (NED)
- Freiburg (GER)
- Monaco (FRA)
- Copenhagen (DEN)
Pot 2
- Midtjylland (DEN)
- Red Star Belgrade (SRB)
- Gent (BEL)
- Panathinaikos (GRE)
- Pafos (CYP)
- Brighton & Hove Albion (ENG)
Pot 3
- Lugano (SUI)
- Getafe (ESP)
- Finland KuPS (FIN)
- Netherlands Twente (NED)
- Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
- Borac Banja Luka (BOS)
Pot 4
- Sint-Truiden (BEL)
- Brann (NOR)
- Heart of Midlothian (SCO)
- Kairat (KAZ)
- Trabzonspor (TUR)
- U Craiova (ROM)
Pot 5
- Riga (LAT)
- Hajduk Split (CRO)
- Jablonec (CZE)
- Nordsjælland (DEN)
- AGF (DEN)
- Inter Club d’Escaldes (AND)
Pot 6
- Thun (SUI)
- CSKA Sofia (BUL)
- Kauno Žalgiris (LIT)
- Mjällby (SWE)
- Iberia 1999 (GEO)
- Egnatia (ALB)
Bournemouth, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Celtic take their place in the Europa League draw – which will be revealed later this afternoon.
Bournemouth have qualified for Europe for the first time in their history while Sunderland are back in a continental competition for the first time since 1974.
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Crystal Palace will be bidding for more European glory after their victory in the Conference League last season, meaning there will be three Premier League sides involved.
Celtic, meanwhile, dropped into the Europa League after their embarrassing collapse against LASK in the Champions League play-off second leg on Tuesday night.
Juventus, AC Milan, Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Lyon and Real Sociedad are the top European sides who the British teams could be drawn with in today’s draw.
And the Conference League draw – featuring Brighton and Heart of Midlothian – will follow later. Here are all the details.
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When is the Europa League draw?
It will begin from 12pm BST on Friday 28 August. If the Champions League is anything to go by, the first ball could be drawn at around 12:30pm. The draw will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max in the United Kingdom, the joint host broadcasters in the UK of the Champions League alongside Prime Video. As with the past couple of seasons, the draw will arrange the eight matches each team contests in the 36-team first phase – facing two teams from pots one, two, three and four. Half of the matches will be at home, the other half away.
Confirmed Europa League pots
Pot 1
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Leverkusen (GER)
Benfica (POR)
Juventus (ITA)
Milan (ITA)
Lyon (FRA)
AZ Alkmaar (NED)
Olympiacos (GRE)
Real Sociedad (ESP)
Marseille (FRA)
Pot 2
Ferencvaros (HUN)
Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Union SG (BEL)
GNK Dinamo (CRO)
Salzburg (AUT)
Celtic (SCO)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Rennes (FRA)
Anderlecht (BEL)
Pot 3
Sturm Graz (AUT)
Lech Poznan (POL)
Crystal Palace (ENG)
Bournemouth (ENG)
Sunderland (ENG)
Celje (SVN)
Jagiellonia (POL)
Omonia (CYP)
Celta (ESP)
Pot 4
Hoffenheim (GER)
Besiktas (TUR)
Torreense (POR)
H. Beer-Sheva (ISR)
N.E.C. (NED)
OFI Crete (GRE)
Lillestrøm (NOR)
Levski Sofia (BUL)
Ararat-Armenia (ARM)
Europa League match schedule
Matchday 1: 16/17 September 2026
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Matchday 2: 15 October 2026
Matchday 3: 22 October 2026
Matchday 4: 5 November 2026
Matchday 5: 26 November 2026
Matchday 6: 10 December 2026
Matchday 7: 21 January 2027
Matchday 8: 28 January 2027
When is the Conference League draw?
The Conference League draw will follow the Europa League draw, so could be started at around 1pm BST. The draw will also be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.
Confirmed Conference League pots
Pot 1
Atalanta (ITA)
Braga (POR)
Ajax (NED)
Freiburg (GER)
Monaco (FRA)
Copenhagen (DEN)
Pot 2
Midtjylland (DEN)
Red Star Belgrade (SRB
Gent (BEL)
Panathinaikos (GRE)
Pafos (CYP)
Brighton & Hove Albion (ENG)
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Pot 3
Lugano (SUI)
Getafe (ESP)
Finland KuPS (FIN)
Netherlands Twente (NED)
Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
Borac Banja Luka (BOS)
Pot 4
Sint-Truiden (BEL)
Brann (NOR)
Heart of Midlothian (SCO)
Kairat (KAZ)
Trabzonspor (TUR)
U Craiova (ROM)
Pot 5
Riga (LAT)
Hajduk Split (CRO)
Jablonec (CZE)
Nordsjælland (DEN)
AGF (DEN)
Inter Club d’Escaldes (AND)
Pot 6
Thun (SUI)
CSKA Sofia (BUL)
Kauno Žalgiris (LIT)
Mjällby (SWE)
Iberia 1999 (GEO)
Egnatia (ALB)
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