Europa League Knockout Phase Draw: British Clubs Await Play-Off Fate
The Europa League's league phase has concluded, setting the stage for the highly anticipated knockout phase play-off draw. This pivotal event will determine the next challenges for the remaining British clubs in the competition, with Nottingham Forest and Celtic poised to learn their opponents.
British Contingent's Mixed Fortunes
Aston Villa have emerged as the standout performers from the British contingent, securing a top-eight finish in the league phase. This achievement grants them an automatic bye to the last 16, where they will face one of Red Star Belgrade, Celta Vigo, PAOK, or Lille. Unai Emery's side now enjoys a period of preparation while others battle through the play-offs.
In contrast, Nottingham Forest and Celtic must navigate the play-off round to advance. Forest secured their place with a commanding 4-0 victory over Ferencvaros on the final matchday, though they had already mathematically qualified. Sean Dyche's team will be drawn against either Turkish giants Fenerbahce or Greek side Panathinaikos.
Celtic ensured their survival in the competition with a crucial win against Utrecht at Parkhead on Thursday, staving off elimination. Their reward is a play-off tie against either Bundesliga side Stuttgart or Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros.
Draw Details and Viewing Information
The 2025/26 Europa League knockout phase play-off draw commences at 12pm GMT on Friday 30 January, taking place in Nyon, Switzerland. This draw involves teams that finished between ninth and twenty-fourth place in the league phase, with the top eight sides having already qualified directly for the last 16.
Football enthusiasts can follow the draw live through multiple channels. UEFA will stream the event on their official website and the Europa League app, while Independent Sport will provide comprehensive coverage through a live blog featuring all results and immediate reaction.
Seeded and Unseeded Teams Revealed
The draw features sixteen teams, with two-thirds of the remaining British representation coming from Forest and Celtic. The seeded teams, based on their league phase finishing positions, are:
- Genk (Belgium)
- Bologna (Italy)
- Stuttgart (Germany)
- Ferencvaros (Hungary)
- Nottingham Forest (England)
- Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)
- Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
- Celta Vigo (Spain)
The unseeded teams competing in the draw are:
- PAOK (Greece)
- Lille (France)
- Fenerbahce (Turkey)
- Panathinaikos (Greece)
- Celtic (Scotland)
- Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria)
- Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
- Brann (Norway)
Pathway to the Last Sixteen
The eight teams already confirmed for the last 16 include Aston Villa alongside Lyon, Midtjylland, Real Betis, Porto, Braga, Freiburg, and Roma. Nottingham Forest and Celtic now face the challenge of joining this elite group by winning their respective play-off ties. The draw represents a critical juncture in their European campaigns, with potential matchups against established continental clubs awaiting.
Follow all the build-up and immediate reaction as the football world turns its attention to Switzerland for this decisive moment in the Europa League season.
