UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Europa League round of 32 draw: all you need to know

When is the draw for the first Europa League knockout stage? Who is involved? How does it work?

The Europa League round of 32 draw takes place on Monday 16 December
The Europa League round of 32 draw takes place on Monday 16 December ©Getty Images

When is it?

The draw takes place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Monday 16 December. The live stream will begin here at 13:00 CET.

Who is involved?

The draw features the 12 group winners and 12 runners-up, plus eight teams transferring from the UEFA Champions League after finishing third in their sections.

Seeded

Inter have transferred from the Champions League
Inter have transferred from the Champions League©AFP

Ajax (NED)*
Arsenal (ENG)
Basel (SUI)
Benfica (POR)*
Braga (POR)
Celtic (SCO)
Espanyol (ESP)
Gent (BEL)
Internazionale Milano (ITA)*
İstanbul Başakşehir (TUR)
LASK (AUT)
Malmö (SWE)
Manchester United (ENG)
Porto (POR)
Salzburg (AUT)*
Sevilla (ESP)

Unseeded

APOEL (CYP)
AZ Alkmaar (NED)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER)*
CFR Cluj (ROU)
Club Brugge (BEL)*
Copenhagen (DEN)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
Getafe (ESP)
Ludogorets (BUL)
Olympiacos (GRE)*
Rangers (SCO)
Roma (ITA)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)*
Sporting CP (POR)
Wolfsburg (GER)
Wolves (ENG)

*transferring from UEFA Champions League

How was seeding determined?

Europa League seeding pots
Europa League seeding pots©Getty Images

The clubs are split into two pots, with the 12 group winners and the four best third-ranked teams in the UEFA Champions League group stage all seeded.

How does the draw work?

  • The seeded teams play at home in the second legs.
  • No team can play a club from their UEFA Europa League group or a side from the same national association.
  • Due to the city clash between Porto and Braga, one of the two return-leg matches will be played on a Wednesday. Porto have priority, having finished in a higher position in their domestic championship, so Braga will play their return leg at home on Wednesday 26 February 2020, at 18:00 CET, irrespective of their opponents.

When do ties take place?

The first legs are scheduled for Thursday 20 February, with the second legs on 27 February. Kick-off times are split between 18:55 CET and 21:00 CET, as they were in the group stage. The round of 16 draw is on 28 February.

Selected for you