Sixteen clubs from the UEFA Champions League and Europa League will have the chance to continue their European campaigns by winning a knockout tie in February.
The UEFA Europa League playoff round is a winner-takes-all two-legged decider to reach the Europa League Round of 16 between clubs who did not qualify automatically from their groups.
Several huge teams are involved, including the likes of former European champions AC Milan and Jose Mourinho's Roma.
Here's what you need to know about the draw, as well as the results once the ceremony is completed.
UEFA Europa League playoff round draw in full
The Sporting News will update this table as the draw is completed.
| Playoff round fixtures |
| Feyenoord vs. Roma |
| AC Milan vs. Rennes |
| Lens vs. Freiburg |
| Young Boys vs. Sporting CP |
| Benfica vs. Toulouse |
| Braga vs. Qarabag |
| Galatasaray vs. Sparta Prague |
| Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Marseille |
How does the UEFA Europa League playoff round work?
Europa League group runners-up are drawn against the teams that finish third in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other, and the Europa League runners-up play the return legs at home.
When is the UEFA Europa League playoff round?
The first legs take place on February 15, 2023. The second are a week later, on February 22, 2023.
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 sides in each group in a position to qualify for the knockout stages.
Group winners automatically qualify for the Round of 16 knockout round and runners-up compete in playoffs against teams dropping down from the Champions League.
MORE: Where is 2024 Europa League final? Venue for European final this season
How does the 2023/24 Europa League knockout stage work?
The eight group winners will be the seeded teams for the Europa League Round of 16. They will be drawn against the winners of the eight playoff ties, which begin on March 7, 2024.
At this point, the Europa League becomes a straightforward knockout competition. The team that wins via aggregate score in the two-legged Round of 16 ties progress to the quarterfinals — another two-legged affair — which take place on April 11 and 18.
The quarterfinal winners go on to the semifinals on May 2 and 9, from which two teams will reach the final.
If scores are level after both legs, extra-time and then penalties if needed, will decide the winner.
| Round | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg |
|---|---|---|
| Round of 16 playoffs | Feb. 15, 2024 | Feb. 22, 2024 |
| Round of 16 | Mar. 7, 2024 | Mar. 14, 2024 |
| Quarterfinals | Apr. 11, 2024 | Apr. 18, 2024 |
| Semifinals | May 2, 2024 | May 9, 2024 |
| Final | May 22, 2024 | |
What time is the Europa League playoff draw?
The draw takes place at 1 p.m. CET. Here's how that all-important draw start time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Mon, Dec. 18 | 7 a.m. ET |
| Canada | Mon, Dec. 18 | 7 a.m. ET |
| UK | Mon, Dec. 18 | 12 p.m. GMT |
| Australia | Mon, Dec. 18 | 11 p.m. AEDT |
| India | Mon, Dec. 18 | 5:30 p.m. IST |
Europa League playoff draw live stream, TV channel
The playoff draw will be streamed live on UEFA.com.
Broadcast and streaming details for individual countries will be confirmed closer to the draw date.
Teams in the Europa League playoff draw: Every team involved
Here are the teams who are in the playoffs.
Europa League group runners-up (seeded)
Freiburg (GER)
Marseille (FRA)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
Sporting (POR)
Toulouse (FRA)
Rennes (FRA)
Roma (ITA)
Qarabag (AZE)
Champions League third-placed teams (unseeded)
Galatasaray (TUR)
Lens (FRA)
Braga (POR)
Benfica (POR)
Feyenoord (NED)
Milan (ITA)
Young Boys (SUI)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
