The new Europa League format – like the Champions League – will feature knockout play-off round in February, to see which teams progress to the last-16.
The top eight teams from the league phase will automatically qualify for the next stage.
They will be joined by the winners of the play-offs, which will consist of eight two-legged ties involving teams that finished between ninth and 24th place in the league standings.
Three British teams are participating in this season’s Europa League: Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers, and the final will be held the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on May 21, 2025.
The knockout draw will be made from the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
Check out the LIVE #UEL bracket 🚨
The knockout phase play-off places will change as goals go in ⤵️
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 30, 2025
📰 Table Of Contents
When is the Europa League draw?
The play-off draw for the Europa League is scheduled for January 31 2025 at 12:30pm GMT.
Teams that placed between ninth and 16th in the standings will be seeded, while those finishing between 17th and 24th will be unseeded.
Each seeded team will face an unseeded opponent in the play-offs, with the advantage of playing the second leg at home.
Additionally, teams will be grouped accordingly, meaning the ninth and 10th-placed teams will be drawn against either the 23rd or 24th-placed teams, while the 11th and 12th-placed sides will be paired against those finishing 21st or 22nd, and so on.
The eight victorious teams from the play-offs will advance to the last 16, joining the top eight from the league phase.
The competition will then proceed in a straightforward knockout format through to the final.
How to watch on TV
You can livestream the Europa League knockout round play-off draw on the UEFA website.
Alternatively, you can watch the draw for free on the TNT Sports YouTube channel from 12:00pm GMT on January 31.
When will the matches take place?
The play-off round will be contested over two legs, taking place on 13th and 20th February 2025.
The draw for the last-16 and later knockout rounds is set for 21 February 2025, following the conclusion of the play-offs.
And breathe! 🥵#UEL pic.twitter.com/jWoQn3I0RW
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 30, 2025
Directly qualified for the last 16
- Lazio
- Athletic Club
- Manchester United
- Tottenham
- Frankfurt
- Lyon
- Olympiacos
- Rangers
Will feature in the knockout play-off round
- Bodo/Glimt
- Anderlecht
- FCSB
- Ajax
- Real Sociedad
- Galatasaray
- Roma
- Viktoria Plzen
- Ferencvaros
- Porto
- AZ Alkmaar
- Union Saint-Gilloise
- PAOK
- FC Twente
- Fenerbahce
Key Champions League knockout stage dates
- Play-off Round: 13th and 20th February 2025
- Last 16: 6th and 13th March 2025
- Quarter-finals: 10th and 17th April 2025
- Semi-finals: 1st May and 8th May 2025
- Final: 21st May 2025
