The 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase begins on September 16 with 36 clubs each playing eight matches (four home, four away) through late January 2027. The top eight in the final standings advance directly to the Round of 16 in March, while teams ranked 9–24 enter knockout play-offs. The August 28 draw paired sides such as AC Milan, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, and Benfica against a balanced mix of opponents from four pots based on UEFA coefficients. Early sentiment centers on squad depth, domestic form entering the campaign, and fixture difficulty, with newly promoted or debutant clubs like Sunderland, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth facing steeper paths against established European sides. No matches have been played yet, leaving outcomes dependent on results across the full schedule.