Europa League news
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The gist
Milan leads a tight pack of Europa League favorites ahead of the September 16 league-phase start.
The revamped 36-team league phase and a tougher Scottish qualifying route are the storylines.
Background
The Europa League has replaced its traditional group stage with a single 36-team league phase: eight rounds of fixtures, four home and four away, with teams seeded into four pots. Milan enters after missing out on Champions League soccer, while Crystal Palace arrives as reigning Conference League winners and Sunderland returns to continental competition. UEFA has also changed the qualifying rounds from next season, splitting the final qualifying round into separate champions and non-champions paths, which BBC Sport reports will make it harder for Scotland's representative to reach the league phase.
How it unfolded
- Sep 8, 2026World Soccer Talk reports Milan at the front of a tight group of Europa League contenders, with Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland among the surprise names tipped to challenge.
- Sep 9, 2026BBC Sport reports UEFA will split the Europa League's final qualifying round into champions and non-champions paths from next season, making Scotland's route harder.
- Sep 9, 2026The Athletic confirms the Europa League league phase opens with fixtures on Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17.
- Sep 16, 2026Milan opens its league-phase schedule against Benfica at San Siro, per World Soccer Talk.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- World Soccer Talk reports projections place Milan at the front of a remarkably tight group of contenders, though several unexpected names are tipped to challenge.
- Caution
- BBC Sport reports the new split qualifying paths will make it more difficult for Scotland's representative to qualify for the league phase.
Still unverified
A Belgian mayor is refusing to let his city host Israeli club Hapoel Beer-Sheva for a Europa League game, meaning Union Saint-Gilloise will need to find a new venue, according to AP; the report gives no date and the situation is unresolved.