UEFA Europa League

The 2026/27 UEFA Europa League is officially in motion, with the qualifying phase and play-off round running from 9 July to 27 August 2026. A total of 53 teams are competing across the Champions Path and Main Path for a place in the 36-team league phase, joining clubs already guaranteed entry such as domestic cup winners and fifth-placed league finishers from Europe's top associations. The First Qualifying Round kicked off with first legs on 9 July, with second legs following on 16 July, before the competition moves into the Second Qualifying Round (23 and 30 July) and Third Qualifying Round (6 and 13 August).

The path to the league phase is dense: the 14 teams in the Third Qualifying Round include second qualifying round winners plus sides dropping down from the Champions League's League Path, while the 24-team Play-off Round will pull in third qualifying round winners, domestic cup winners from lower-ranked associations, and Champions League Path casualties. Only the 12 play-off round winners progress to the league phase, joining 13 direct entrants and clubs displaced from Champions League qualifying — underlining how much is riding on these early rounds for clubs across the continent.

ExPrysm will continue tracking every qualifying fixture as the road to the league phase unfolds. Note: ExPrysm publishes its predictions and results with full transparency.