Europa League Bracket 2026/27

How the Europa League bracket works

The top eight clubs in the final league-phase table go straight to the round of 16. Clubs finishing 9th to 24th play a two-leg knockout play-off for the other eight places. Clubs below 24th are eliminated; there is no transfer into the Conference League from this stage.

Who can meet in the knockout play-offs?

The draw uses pairs of league positions. It is not an unrestricted draw between all 16 clubs: each seeded pair is matched with a particular unseeded pair.

Which team plays the second leg at home?

Seeded clubs normally host the return leg in the play-offs and round of 16. League-phase positions 1–4 carry that advantage into the quarter-finals, and positions 1–2 into the semi-finals. A club that eliminates a seeded team inherits its seeding position on that route. Always check the confirmed fixture for the actual venue and order.

Knockout dates and the 2027 final

The 2026/27 knockout campaign runs from the winter play-offs to the May final. The summer qualifying play-offs belong to the earlier campaign and are not part of this bracket.

One match decides the trophy

The final is scheduled for 26 May 2027 at Stadion Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. Earlier knockout ties are played over two legs; the final is a single match. Extra time and penalties decide a final that remains level, rather than a replay on another day.

Follow your team's route

Select a club to highlight its confirmed route. On a phone, use the round buttons to move through the bracket; choose All rounds for the wider view. Open a leg to check the date, local kick-off and match details. Print bracket produces a view of all rounds.

What do the empty places mean?

Teams to be confirmed means the place has not yet been assigned here. Dashed connectors explain how rounds lead into one another; they are not predictions of opponents. Confirmed ties without assigned bracket positions appear separately until their places are known.

Once the relevant draws have fixed the path, later opponents follow that route. Winning clubs do not enter a fresh unrestricted draw after every round. Read aggregate scores across both legs, with shootout scores kept separate, and use the calendar for confirmed matches you want to watch.