The UEFA Europa League is Europe’s second-tier club competition. It mixes powerhouse soccer clubs from the top leagues with ambitious challengers, giving us Thursday night action full of drama, rotation, and betting opportunities.
With UEFA’s new league-phase format starting in 2024/25, the competition feels fresher than ever while still offering the same prize: the famous trophy and a direct ticket into next season’s UEFA Champions League.
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What is the UEFA Europa League?
The Europa League is UEFA’s secondary soccer competition, launched in 1971 as the UEFA Cup and rebranded in 2009/10. From 2024/25 onward, it adopted a new structure featuring a 36-team league phase that mirrors the modern-day Champions League format.
The field is made up of teams from all over Europe. Automatic qualification is granted to sides that finish just below the Champions League places in the stronger domestic competitions, including the Premier League in the UK, La Liga in Spain, Serie A in Italy, the Bundesliga in Germany, Ligue 1 in France, the Primera Liga in Portugal, and the Eredivisie in the Netherlands.
The rest of the competitors are decided through a series of qualifying rounds. These feature teams from lower-ranked domestic leagues, as well as sides that have been eliminated from Champions League qualifying.
Unlike before, clubs no longer drop down from the main draw of the Champions League. The Europa League now stands alone, with the winners guaranteed a place in the UCL league phase the following season.
How teams qualify for the UEFA Europa League
The Europa League draws its field from clubs across Europe that qualify through different routes:
- Domestic league finish: Most entrants qualify by finishing just outside the Champions League spots in their home league (for example, fifth or sixth place in stronger leagues).
- Domestic cup winners: National cup champions often earn a Europa League berth if they haven’t already qualified for the Champions League.
- Playoff rounds: Clubs from smaller associations begin their journey in the early qualifying rounds during the summer, with several stages leading into the league phase.
This mix means every season’s field blends well-known clubs from Europe’s top-five leagues with hungry challengers from smaller nations, creating unpredictable matchups and betting value.
Best sportsbooks for Europa League betting
To bet safely and effectively, always use a licensed sportsbook. The best betting sites for the Europa League offer:
- Early odds for every match
- Player props (goalscorers, cards, shots, etc)
- Fast payouts and clear rules on voided bets
- Mobile betting platforms for in-play wagering
At BettingPlanet.com, we only recommend trusted operators. If you’re in United States, check our list of approved online sportsbooks to get started.
Top Europa League betting sites
Terms & Conditions Apply. Visit BetOnline for more information.
Most common Europa League bets
- The classic market: pick home, draw, or away. Draws happen around 25% of the time in the Europa League. To lower risk, try ‘draw no bet’ (stake refunded if it’s a tie), ‘double chance’ (two results covered), or Asian Handicap lines with push protection.
- If you don’t want to pick a winner, bet on total goals (over/under 2.5 is the most popular) or whether both teams score. Both teams to score (BTTS) is more likely when both sides attack, but less so if one team is very defensive.
- Back a player to score anytime, score first, or to record shots on target. Wingers and penalty-takers are popular choices. You can also bet on cards, which often rise in heated knockout matches.
- Markets like ‘race to five corners’ are common. Favorites that attack early against deep-lying opponents generate plenty of corners.
- Combine multiple picks for higher odds, but avoid stacking bets that depend on conflicting outcomes (like favorite to win -1.5 and under 2.5 goals). Instead, build a logical script: if you think the favorite dominates, pair a team-total over with opponent cards or corners.
- Long-range bets include backing the tournament winner, top scorer, or qualification from the league phase. Odds are best before the season starts or around the winter transfer window.
UEFA Europa League outright odds
UEFA Europa League outright betting odds will be available once the qualifiers are complete and the full list of Europa League squads is known.
UEFA Europa League tournament format
Once the field is set, the Europa League unfolds in three main stages: the qualifying rounds, the league phase, and the knockout rounds.
Qualifying rounds and playoffs
Europa League qualifiers are held in July and August, with playoffs wrapping up a few weeks into the domestic season.
Lower-ranked clubs from smaller associations must survive up to three qualifying rounds and a playoff to reach the league phase. Meanwhile, teams from stronger domestic leagues — and those who drop down from Champions League qualifying — enter the frame in later rounds.
All Europa League qualifying matchups are two-legged ties with each team playing one game at home and one away. While the winning teams advance to the next round, the losing sides drop into the Conference League pathway.
League phase
A total of 36 teams compete in the league phase, all ranked on a single table. Each side plays eight matches — four home, four away — against different opponents, with points awarded as per standard league rules: three for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss.
At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16 and the bottom 12 are eliminated. The remaining teams, ranked ninth to 24th, face off in the knockout playoffs to determine who advances to the round of 16.
Knockout rounds
The Europa League knockout rounds are held over five stages:
- Knockout playoffs
- Round of 16
- Quarterfinals
- Semifinals
- Final
From the playoffs through the semifinals, every matchup is a two-legged tie where the winner stays on and the loser is eliminated. The final, however, is a one-off match played at predetermined venue, with the winning side crowned Europa League champions.
2025/26 UEFA Europa League key dates
Qualifying rounds
- First round: July 10 & 17, 2025
- Second round: July 24 & 31, 2025
- Third round: August 7 & 14, 2025
- Playoffs: August 21 & 28, 2025
League phase
- Matchday 1: September 24–25, 2025 (Wednesday–Thursday)
- Matchday 2: October 2, 2025
- Matchday 3: October 23, 2025
- Matchday 4: November 6, 2025
- Matchday 5: November 27, 2025
- Matchday 6: December 11, 2025
- Matchday 7: January 22, 2026
- Matchday 8: January 29, 2026
Knockout rounds
- Playoffs: February 19 & 26, 2026
- Round of 16: March 12 & 16, 2026
- Quarterfinals: April 9 & 16, 2026
- Semifinals: April 30 & May 7, 2026
- Final: May 20, 2026
Draw dates
- First qualifying round: June 17, 2025
- Second qualifying round: June 18, 2025
- Third qualifying round: July 21, 2025
- Playoffs: August 4, 2025
- League phase: August 29, 2025
- Knockout playoffs: January 30, 2026
- Round of 16: February 27, 2026
All dates are subject to UEFA changes.
Key insights for Europa League betting
- Do your research: Check expected goals (xG), rest days, and set-piece stats.
- Mind the schedule: Thursday-to-Sunday turnarounds often catch smaller squads.
- Form matters: Rolling five-game stats on key stats (shots on target, xG) can reveal genuine momentum.
- Watch the draw: Pre-match odds for a draw are often overplayed; consider ‘draw no bet’ instead.
- Prop strategy: Tie props to your game script; if you expect an open match, combine BTTS with winger shots.
- Stay disciplined: Use unit staking, track bets, and focus on beating the closing odds rather than chasing single wins.
UEFA Europa League history & records
2010-11 Porto 2011-12 Atlético Madrid 2012-13 Chelsea 2013-14 Sevilla 2014-15 Sevilla 2015-16 Sevilla 2016-17 Manchester United 2017-18 Atlético Madrid 2018-19 Chelsea 2019-20 Sevilla 2020-21 Villarreal 2021-22 Eintracht Frankfurt 2022-23 Sevilla 2023-24 Atalanta 2024-25 Tottenham Hotspur Most titles Sevilla (7) Most appearances (player) Giuseppe Bergomi (96) Top scorer Henrik Larsson (40)
