2026/27 Europa League: Meet the league phase teams

The league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League is upon us. We take a closer look at the 36 teams hoping to make their mark.

UEFA coefficient rankings accurate ahead of Matchday 1.

Anderlecht (BEL)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 71
How they qualified: Fourth in Belgium; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Winners (1982/83)

Ararat-Armenia (ARM)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 224
How they qualified: Armenian champions; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League third qualifying round
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League: League phase (2026/27)

AZ Alkmaar (NED)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 38
How they qualified: Dutch Cup winners
Last season: Conference League quarter-finals
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Runners-up (1980/81)

Benfica (POR)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 21
How they qualified: Third in Portugal; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Champions League knockout phase play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Runners-up (1982/83, 2012/13, 2013/14)

Beşiktaş (TUR)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 151
How they qualified: Fourth in Türkiye; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Quarter-finals (2002/03, 2016/17)

Bournemouth (ENG)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 97
How they qualified: Sixth in England
Last season: N/A
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: N/A

Celje (SVN)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 83
How they qualified: Slovenian champions; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League round of 16
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: First round (2003/04)

Celta (ESP)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 110
How they qualified: Sixth in Spain
Last season: Europa League quarter-finals
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Semi-finals (2016/17)

Celtic (SCO)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 55
How they qualified: Scottish champions; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Europa League knockout phase play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Runners-up (2002/03)

Crystal Palace (ENG)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 88
How they qualified: Conference League winners
Last season: Conference League winners
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: N/A

Ferencváros (HUN)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 39
How they qualified: Second in Hungary; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Europa League round of 16
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Semi-finals (1971/72)

GNK Dinamo (CRO)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 57
How they qualified: Croatian champions; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Europa League knockout phase play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Quarter-finals (2020/21)

H. Beer-Sheva (ISR)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 152
How they qualified: Israeli champions; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League second qualifying round
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Round of 32 (2016/17)

Hoffenheim (GER)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 118
How they qualified: Fifth in Germany
Last season: N/A
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Round of 32 (2020/21)

Jagiellonia (POL)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 87
How they qualified: Third in Poland; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League knockout phase play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: League phase (2026/27)

Juventus (ITA)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 35
How they qualified: Sixth in Italy
Last season: Champions League knockout phase play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Winners (1976/77, 1989/90, 1992/93)

Lech Poznań (POL)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 75
How they qualified: Polish champions; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League round of 16
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Round of 32 (2008/09, 2010/11)

Leverkusen (GER)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 12
How they qualified: Sixth in Germany
Last season: Champions League round of 16
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Winners (1987/88)

Levski Sofia (BUL)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 223
How they qualified: Bulgarian champions; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Quarter-finals (1975/76, 2005/06)

Lillestrøm (NOR)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 209
How they qualified: Norwegian Cup winners; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Did not qualify
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: League phase (2026/27)

Lyon (FRA)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 45
How they qualified: Fourth in France; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Europa League round of 16
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Semi-finals (2016/17)

Marseille (FRA)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 54
How they qualified: Fifth in France
Last season: Champions League league phase
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Final (1998/99, 2003/04, 2017/18)

Milan (ITA)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 27
How they qualified: Fifth in Italy
Last season: N/A
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Semi-finals (1971/72, 2001/02)

N.E.C. (NED)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 160
How they qualified: Third in Netherlands; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: N/A
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Round of 32 (2008/09)

OFI Crete (GRE)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 191
How they qualified: Greek Cup winners; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Did not qualify
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Third round (1993/94)

Olympiacos (GRE)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 33
How they qualified: Second in Greece; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Champions League knockout phase play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Round of 16 (1989/90, 2004/05, 2011/12, 2016/17, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2024/25)

Omonoia (CYP)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 108
How they qualified: Cypriot champions; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League knockout phase play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Group stage/league phase (2020/21, 2022/23, 2026/27)

Real Sociedad (ESP)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 42
How they qualified: Spanish Cup winners
Last season: N/A
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Quarter-finals (1988/89)

Rennes (FRA)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 94
How they qualified: Sixth in France
Last season: N/A
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Round of 16 (2018/19)

Salzburg (AUT)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 72
How they qualified: Third in Austria; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Europa League league phase
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Runners-up (1993/94)

Sparta Praha (CZE)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 62
How they qualified: Second in Czechia; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Conference League round of 16
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Quarter-finals (1983/84, 2015/16)

Sturm Graz (AUT)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 80
How they qualified: Second in Austria; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Europa League league phase
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Quarter-finals (1983/84)

Sunderland (ENG)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 96
How they qualified: Seventh in England
Last season: N/A
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: N/A

Torreense (POR)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 133
How they qualified: Portuguese Cup winners
Last season: N/A
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: N/A

Union SG (BEL)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 41
How they qualified: Second in Belgium; Champions league qualifying play-offs
Last season: Champions League league phase
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Quarter-finals (2022/23)

Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)

UEFA coefficient ranking: 40
How they qualified: Third in Czechia; qualifying play-offs
Last season: Europa League knockout phase play-offs
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Round of 16 (2012/13, 2013/14, 2017/18, 2024/25)