UEFA Conference League knockout phase play-off draw: Where is it, when is it, who is involved?

The 2025/26 UEFA Conference League knockout phase play-off draw takes place on Friday 16 January 2026.

The draw involves the teams finishing in ninth to 24th place in the league phase – the top eight sides in the league phase qualify automatically for the round of 16.

Which teams are in the Conference League knockout phase play-off draw?

The 16 teams involved will be confirmed when the league phase concludes on Thursday 18 December 2025.

How can I watch the draw?

The draw will be streamed live on UEFA.com and the official UEFA Conference League app.

Where is the Conference League knockout phase play-off draw?

The draw takes place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.

How will the Conference League knockout phase play-off draw work?

The fixtures for the knockout phase play-offs are determined by means of a draw conducted in accordance with the following principles:

a. The clubs are paired based on their positions at the end of the league phase to form four seeded pairs (clubs in positions 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, and 15 and 16) and four unseeded pairs (positions 17 and 18, 19 and 20, 21 and 22, and 23 and 24).

b. The clubs in each seeded pair are drawn into the knockout phase bracket, against the clubs in each unseeded pair: clubs 9 or 10 against clubs 23 or 24, clubs 11 or 12 against clubs 21 or 22, clubs 13 or 14 against clubs 19 or 20, and clubs 15 or 16 against clubs 17 or 18.

Can teams from the same national association face each other in the Conference League knockout phase play-offs?

Sides can face another team from the same national association in the knockout phase play-offs. Clubs can also face opponents they met during the league phase.

When do the knockout phase play-off games take place?

Ties take place over two legs and the seeded team will, in principle, play the return leg at home.

First legs: 19 February 2026
Second legs: 26 February 2026

However, the UEFA administration decides match dates and fixture reversals on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Principles set by the UEFA Club Competitions Committee for Stadium and City Clashes. UEFA will confirm the calendar, including match dates and kick-off times, once the draw is made.

The eight clubs that prevail in the knockout phase play-offs progress to the round of 16, the draw for which takes place on Friday 27 February 2026.