The Europa League format will see its new play-offs format in action for the first time in February, to decide which teams enter the last-16 knockout round.
The top eight teams in the final Europa League league-phase table will automatically go through to the last-16. They will be joined by the play-offs: a set of eight two-legged ties between those clubs who finished between ninth and 24th in the league standings.
There are three British sides in the Europa League, with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers all hoping to go far in the competition.
Here is all you need to know about the Europa League play-offs draw.
When is the play-offs draw?
The Europa League play-offs draw will take place on 31 January 2025.
How does the draw work?
The teams that finished between ninth and 16th in the league standings will be seeded for the play-offs draw, and they will each be drawn against an unseeded team that finished between 17th and 24th in the table.
The seeded team will have the slight advantage of playing the second leg at home.
Teams will be paired together in the draw, so the two sides who finished ninth and 10th will be drawn against either the 23rd or 24th placed sides; the teams who finished 11th and 12th will be drawn against either the 21st or 22nd-placed sides, and so on.
The eight winners from the play-offs will meet the top eight from the league phase in the last-16, where straight knockout rounds will run all the way to the final.
When will the play-off matches be played?
The Europa League play-offs will take place over two legs on 13 and 20 February 2025.
When is the knockout phase draw?
The draw for the last-16 and subsequent rounds will take place on 21 February 2025, after the play-offs have concluded.
Europa League round dates
Knockout phase play-offs: 13 & 20 February 2025
Round of 16: 6 & 13 March 2025
Quarter-finals: 10 & 17 April 2025
Semi-finals: 1 & 8 May 2025
Where and when is the Europa League final?
The final will be held at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on 21 May 2025.
