The drama and drama-laden storylines of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League have reached a pivotal turning point. With the league phase concluding on January 29, 2026, 24 clubs have now secured their places in the Europa League knockout phase, setting the stage for an electrifying spring of continental competition.
This season’s Europa League — now in its 55th edition and 17th since the UEFA Cup was rebranded — has featured a bold new structure. Instead of the traditional group stage format, teams have contested a single league phase involving 36 clubs, with the top eight advancing directly to the Round of 16 and the rest entering knockout play-offs to vie for progression.
Eight Clubs Earn Direct Passage to the Round of 16
While all teams have battled through seven weeks of intense league action, a comfortable elite eight emerged based on performance, points and goal difference. These sides claimed the coveted spots that bypass the first knockout hurdle, heading straight to the Round of 16:
- Olympique Lyonnais (France) – The French side topped the league table with a blend of tactical discipline and attacking verve, sealing first place with an emphatic 4-2 victory over PAOK on the final matchday.
- Aston Villa (England) – Villa confirmed runners-up status with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over RB Salzburg, illustrating their never-say-die style that has become synonymous with their European push.
- Midtjylland (Denmark) – Denmark’s hopefuls secured a top-three finish, combining defensive resilience with clinical counter-attacks to collect crucial points throughout the campaign.
- Real Betis (Spain) – The Spanish contingent provided technical finesse and flair, finishing strongly in the league standings.
- Porto (Portugal) – A traditional Europa League contender, Porto ensured its place via a commanding 3-1 win over Rangers on matchday eight, highlighting the depth and quality of Portuguese club football.
- Braga (Portugal) – Braga’s consistency earned them sixth, rounding out a strong showing for Portugal’s representatives.
- Freiburg (Germany) – The Bundesliga side’s blend of tactical acumen and tactical balance paid dividends, giving them a direct ticket into the last 16.
- AS Roma (Italy) – Roma came through a tightly contested battle for eighth place — including overcoming a red card setback in their final match — to claim the last direct qualification slot.
These eight clubs have enjoyed not only the sporting reward of finishing high in the league phase but also the strategic benefit of bypassing the knockout play-offs, allowing them more time to prepare and recover ahead of mid-February action.
Knockout Play-offs: Seeded Teams Set to Test Their Mettle
For the teams ranked 9th through 16th, the journey continues via the knockout phase play-offs — a two-legged qualifier that decides who joins the elite eight in the Round of 16. These matches introduce a do-or-die edge to the Europa League’s redesigned format, with plenty of intrigue looming in February.
The eight seeded sides that will contest those ties are:
- Genk (Belgium) – A Belgian contingent eager to make its mark beyond the group phase.
- Bologna (Italy) – The Italian club has ridden a balanced league phase but will be tested in knockout conditions.
- VfB Stuttgart (Germany) – The Bundesliga representative looks to use domestic confidence to push through Europe.
- Ferencváros (Hungary) – Hungary’s champions remain a threat with their seasoned European pedigree.
- Nottingham Forest (England) – Forest’s emphatic 4-0 win over Ferencváros in the final matchday illustrated their capability on the big stage.
- Viktoria Plzeň (Czech Republic) – Czech football’s mainstay looks to upset higher-profile opponents in the play-offs.
- Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) – The Serbian giants are no strangers to European competition and will bring a passionate following to the ties.
- Celta Vigo (Spain) – A Spanish challenger with La Liga experience and attacking dynamism.
These seeded sides will be drawn against unseeded teams in the next round, potentially setting up some compelling matchups when the first legs take place on Feb. 19 and Feb. 26, 2026.
Play-off Outsiders: Unseeded Teams Hungry for Upsets
Complementing the seeded teams are the unseeded challengers, who finished 17th to 24th in the league standings yet still kept their European hopes alive. These teams enter the knockout fray with an underdog mentality and a chance to make a name for themselves:
- PAOK (Greece) – The Greek side has shown resilience in the league’s unpredictability.
- Lille (France) – After enduring an ACL injury setback to one of their stars, Lille look to rebound on the continental stage.
- Fenerbahçe (Turkey) – Turkish football’s juggernauts bring a fervent fan base and a never-say-die spirit.
- Panathinaikos (Greece) – The historic Greek club returns with European intent.
- Celtic (Scotland) – Celtic secured their spot with a decisive 4-2 win over Utrecht in the final matchday, giving Scottish supporters plenty to cheer ahead of February.
- Ludogorets (Bulgaria) – The Bulgarian champions have punched above their weight to qualify for the knockout stage.
- Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) – The Croatian powerhouse has long been a mainstay of European competition and now has another chance to shine.
- SK Brann (Norway) – Brann claimed the final playoff spot despite a last-day loss, rounding out this diverse group of hopefuls.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next in Europe’s Second-Tier Showpiece
With the knockout phase lineup now complete, attention turns to the crucial play-off draws this Friday, Jan. 30 in Nyon, Switzerland, where the seeded and unseeded teams will learn their fate.
The Europa League will then progress with:
- Knockout phase play-offs: Feb. 19 & 26, 2026
- Round of 16: March 12 & 19, 2026
- Quarter-finals: April 9 & 16, 2026
- Semi-finals: April 30 & May 7, 2026
- Final: May 20, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey.
For fans, pundits and clubs alike, the knockout phase represents both opportunity and peril — a compressed sprint of high-stakes fixtures where reputations can be rewritten and underdogs can cause upsets. Whether it’s the established credentials of Lyon and Villa or the unpredictable spark of clubs like Celtic and Brann, Europe’s mid-season overhaul promises an exhilarating run to the final.
