How does the UEFA Europa League work? Competition format explained for 2023/24

The 2023/24 UEFA Europa League offers teams from across the continent the chance to win European silverware this season.

There is further tournament interest in the Premier League with English trio Liverpool, West Ham and Brighton & Hove Albion all reaching the last 16.

Liverpool made a strong return to the competition, in their first appearance since 2016, with West Ham’s UEFA Europa Conference League title propelling them into the Europa League, alongside European debutants Brighton.

The group stage concluded in December and the competition resumes on February 14, 2024, with teams from across Europe dreaming of glory at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 22, 2024.

MORE: Europa League draw results: 2023/24 group stage teams, schedule

How does the UEFA Europa League work?

For the group stages, 32 qualified teams were divided into eight groups of four teams each, with the top two teams from each group able to advance to the knockout stages.

The group winners automatically qualify for the round of 16 and the runners-up face off in a playoff against teams coming out of the UEFA Champions League.

MORE: Where is the 2024 Europa League final taking place? Location of the European final this season

How is the 2023/24 Europa League group stage going?

The final group standings were determined first by total points and then by goal difference. The group winners automatically progressed to the round of 16, while those who finished second entered a knockout round against eight teams eliminated from the Champions League after finishing third in their group.

Those who finished third in their Europa League group qualify for a knockout round to advance to the Europa Conference League. Teams that finished last in the group are out of European competition for the rest of the season.

How does the 2023/24 Europa League knockout stage play out?

The eight group winners will be seeded in the Europa League round of 16. They will be drawn against the winners of the eight elimination matches, which will begin on March 7, 2024.

At this point, the Europa League becomes a simple knockout competition. The team that wins via aggregate score in the home-and-away round of 16 progresses to the quarter-finals – another home-and-away affair – which will take place on April 11-18.

The winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals on May 2 and 9, from which two teams will reach the final.

If the scores are tied after both matches, overtime, then penalties if necessary, will decide the winner.

Round 1st step 2nd step
Round of 16 playoffs Feb. 15, 2024 Feb. 22, 2024
Round of 16 Mar. 7, 2024 Mar. 14, 2024
Quarter-finals Apr. 11, 2024 Apr. 18, 2024
Semi-finals May 2, 2024 May 9, 2024
Finals May 22, 2024

Where is the 2024 Europa League final taking place?

The 2024 UEFA Europa League Final will take place at the Aviva Arena, Dublin on May 22, 2024.

How to watch the Europa League around the world

TV channels Streaming
Australia Stan Sports
Canada DAZN
Hong Kong be in sports beIN Sports Connect
India Sony TEN SonyLIV
Malaysia be in sports beIN Sports Connect
New Zealand beIN Sports Connect
Singapore be in sports beIN Sports Connect
UNITED KINGDOM TNT Sports TNT Sports, discovery+
UNITED STATES Univision Paramount+

UNITED KINGDOM: Matches are broadcast on TNT Sports and streamed on their website and app platforms as well as additional options through Discovery+.

UNITED STATES: The matches are available for streaming on Paramount+ (English) and Univision channels (Spanish).

Canada: Every Europa League match streams live on DAZN.

Australia: Every match in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League streams on Stan Sport without advertising, live and on demand on Stan Sport.

Chad Hardy

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