Europa League round of 16 and knockout phase play-offs: Who has qualified?
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Article summary
There are 24 spots up for grabs in the knockout phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League – we keep track of them all here.
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Nineteen teams have secured their places in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League round of 16 or knockout phase play-offs.
Bologna, Braga, Celta Vigo, Crvena Zvezda, Fenerbahçe, Genk, Nottingham Forest, Panathinaikos, PAOK, Porto, Roma, Stuttgart, Viktoria Plzeň all booked their places in the knockout phase on Matchday 7.
Elsewhere, two teams – Aston Villa and Lyon – ensured they will qualify directly for the round of 16. The pair sealed their places in knockout phase alongside Ferencváros, Freiburg, Midtjylland and Real Betis on Matchday 6.
The top eight in the league phase advance directly to the round of 16; sides finishing from ninth to 24th will contest the knockout phase play-offs, with the victors going through to the last 16.
2025/26 Europa League
Confirmed in round of 16
Aston Villa (ENG), Lyon (FRA)
Confirmed in either round of 16 or knockout phase play-offs
Bologna (ITA), Braga (POR), Celta Vigo (ESP), Crvena Zvezda (SRB), Fenerbahçe (TUR), Ferencváros (HUN), Freiburg (GER), Genk (BEL), Midtjylland (DEN), Nottingham Forest (ENG), Panathinaikos (GRE), PAOK (GRE), Porto (POR), Real Betis (ESP), Roma (ITA), Stuttgart (GER), Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
See the current league phase table here.
Europa League knockout phase
Knockout phase play-offs: 19 & 26 February 2026
Round of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026
Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 May 2026
Final: 20 May 2026 (Istanbul)
Standings are provisional until all league phase matches have been played and officially validated by UEFA. Confirmations of qualification / elimination are based on the provisional standings and are therefore for guidance purposes only until all league phase matches are completed and final standings have been validated by UEFA.