Sunderland and Bournemouth secured high-profile fixtures against AC Milan in the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League draw, marking their first European campaigns in decades. The draw, held on 28 August 2026, set a schedule with 16/17 September 2026 as the first matchday, featuring 36 teams across four pots.
Sunderland’s Historic Return to European Competition
Sunderland, making their first European appearance since 1973, will face AC Milan at the San Siro in a clash that underscores their return to continental football. The Black Cats, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, will also play AZ Alkmaar, GNK Dinamo, and Anderlecht at home, with away games against Jagiellonia, Lech Poznan, and Levski Sofia. The draw highlights the club’s long-awaited reentry into European competition after a 52-year hiatus.
The 36 UEFA Europa League hopefuls were split into four pots for the league phase draw, with Pot 1 including AC Milan, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, and Real Sociedad. Sunderland was placed in Pot 3, alongside Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. Their schedule includes home matches against AZ Alkmaar, GNK Dinamo, and Anderlecht, as well as away games against Jagiellonia, Lech Poznan, and Levski Sofia. Additional fixtures include encounters with Sparta Prague, Sturm Graz, and Torreense.
Europa League draw
The significance of this draw extends beyond the pitch.
Bournemouth’s Europa League Debut and Challenges
Bournemouth, competing in the Europa League for the first time, will host AC Milan at the Vitality Stadium, a fixture that could test their resilience. The Cherries, who finished sixth in the Premier League, will also face Real Sociedad, Viktoria Plzen, and Sturm Graz. Their schedule includes away trips to Sparta Prague, Celta, and Lillestrom, as detailed by The Independent. The draw, which saw Bournemouth in Pot 3, reflects the club’s rapid rise following their promotion to the top flight.
Bournemouth’s fixtures include home games against AC Milan, Real Sociedad, and Viktoria Plzen, as well as away matches against Sparta Prague, Celta, and Lillestrom. Additional opponents include Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Omonia, Besiktas, and Torreense.
Fixture Dates and Key Matchups
The Europa League’s 2026–27 season will unfold over eight matchdays, with the first games on 16/17 September 2026 and the final on 26 May 2027 in Frankfurt. Key matchups include Celtic’s clash with Marseille and Benfica, and Crystal Palace’s encounters with Lyon and Real Sociedad. The draw, organized by UEFA, placed teams into four pots based on their rankings, with Pot 1 featuring powerhouses like AC Milan, Juventus, and Bayer Leverkusen.
For Bournemouth and Sunderland, the draw’s complexity is evident. Bournemouth’s schedule includes a trip to Real Sociedad, while Sunderland faces Milan twice—once at home and once away. The Independent’s detailed fixtures list highlights the intensity of these matches, with both clubs needing to balance domestic and European commitments. The stakes are high, as success in the Europa League could secure a place in the knockout stages, a prospect that has energized fans across both clubs.
Other notable fixtures include Crystal Palace’s encounters with Lyon, Real Sociedad, and Besiktas, as well as Celtic’s matches against Marseille and Benfica. The Scottish Premiership champions, who fell into the Europa League after a Champions League play-off exit, will also face Ferencvaros, Union SG, and Celta. The Europa League final will take place in Frankfurt on 26 May, while the Conference League final is scheduled for 2 June in Istanbul, according to the UEFA draw details.
Bundesliga clubs learn their opponents in Friday’s UEFA Europa
Conference League Contenders and Fixtures
In the Conference League, Brighton’s draw includes fixtures against AS Monaco and Spanish side Getafe. Hearts have also been drawn against Monaco and will also face a trip to Mohamed Salah’s Trabzonspor. The Conference League’s schedule features teams like Panathinaikos, U Craiova, and Kauno Zalgiris, with Brighton and Hearts facing additional opponents such as Jablonec and Thun. The competition’s final will take place in Istanbul on 2 June 2027, as confirmed by the UEFA draw.
The Europa League’s league phase will see teams compete over eight matchdays, with specific dates outlined in the official UEFA schedule. Matchday 1 is set for 16/17 September 2026, followed by Matchday 2 on 15 October 2026, Matchday 3 on 22 October 2026, and so on, with the final on 26 May 2027. The knockout phase will begin in February 2027, with the round of 16 in March, quarter-finals in April, and semi-finals in May.
As the season approaches, the focus will shift to how these teams adapt to the challenges of European competition. For Sunderland, the draw represents a chance to reclaim their place among football’s elite, while Bournemouth aims to establish themselves as a consistent force in continental football. The first matchday on 16/17 September 2026 will be a critical test of their readiness.
