UEL 2026/27 play-offs are now set after the third qualifying round produced 13 teams that progressed to the final qualifying stage. The next round is the final qualifying stage before the Europa League league phase.
The third qualifying round produced extra time, high-scoring ties and several narrow aggregate wins. The play-off draw, held on 3 August, has now set the 12 two-legged ties to be played on 20 and 27 August 2026.
READ ALSO: 2026/27 UEFA Europa League: Third qualifying round results, talking points & playoffs fixtures
UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round Results
| Tie | Aggregate result | Team through |
| Iberia Tbilisi vs Larne | 2-1 after extra time | Iberia Tbilisi |
| Omonia vs Lincoln Red Imps | 2-1 | Omonia |
| Universitatea Craiova vs KuPS Kuopio | 3-2 | Universitatea Craiova |
| Thun vs Víkingur Reykjavík | 5-3 | Thun |
| Egnatia vs Shamrock Rovers | 6-4 | Egnatia |
| Beşiktaş vs Hradec Králové | 2-0 | Beşiktaş |
| Salzburg vs Pafos | 4-3 | Salzburg |
| Ferencváros vs Górnik Zabrze | 2-1 | Ferencváros |
| CSKA Sofia vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv | 4-3 | CSKA Sofia |
| Jagiellonia Białystok vs Rangers | 3-2 | Jagiellonia Białystok |
| Anderlecht vs PAOK | 4-2 | Anderlecht |
| Benfica vs Hearts | 7-2 | Benfica |
| Lech Poznań vs Klaksvík | 6-0 | Lech Poznań |
Iberia Tbilisi needed extra time to eliminate Larne, while Egnatia overturned its first-leg deficit against Shamrock Rovers. Benfica, Lech Poznań and Omonia also secured their routes into the final qualifying round.
UEL 2026/27 Play-Offs: Draw
The Europa League play-offs feature 24 clubs: 13 third qualifying-round winners, five clubs entering directly and six teams transferred from the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
| First leg: 20 August | Second leg: 27 August |
| Kairat Almaty vs Anderlecht | Anderlecht vs Kairat Almaty |
| Jagiellonia Białystok vs Iberia Tbilisi | Iberia Tbilisi vs Jagiellonia Białystok |
| Mjällby vs Salzburg | Salzburg vs Mjällby |
| Trabzonspor vs Ferencváros | Ferencváros vs Trabzonspor |
| Universitatea Craiova vs Ararat-Armenia | Ararat-Armenia vs Universitatea Craiova |
| Egnatia vs Lillestrøm | Lillestrøm vs Egnatia |
| Beşiktaş vs Kauno Žalgiris | Kauno Žalgiris vs Beşiktaş |
| Lech Poznań vs Thun | Thun vs Lech Poznań |
| Sint-Truidense vs Omonia | Omonia vs Sint-Truidense |
| Crvena Zvezda vs Viktoria Plzeň | Viktoria Plzeň vs Crvena Zvezda |
| OFI Crete vs CSKA Sofia | CSKA Sofia vs OFI Crete |
| Benfica vs Aarhus | Aarhus vs Benfica |
Kick-off times and match arrangements can change, so supporters should check UEFA’s official fixtures page before matchday.
Key Europa League Play-Off Ties to Watch
Benfica face Aarhus after progressing comfortably past Hearts in the third qualifying round. The Portuguese club will aim to turn its experience in European competition into a place in the league phase.
Trabzonspor against Ferencváros is another notable tie. Ferencváros eliminated Górnik Zabrze in the previous round and now face a demanding two-leg contest against the Turkish side.
Crvena Zvezda meet Viktoria Plzeň, while Beşiktaş take on Kauno Žalgiris. Jagiellonia Białystok and Iberia Tbilisi also meet after both came through difficult qualifying ties.
When Are the Europa League Play-Off Matches?
The UEFA Europa League play-offs will be played over two legs:
- First legs: Thursday, 20 August 2026
- Second legs: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Each tie is decided on aggregate score across both matches. If required, extra time and penalty shoot-outs can be used in the second leg to determine the winner.
What Happens to the Play-Off Winners and Losers?
The winners of the 12 Europa League play-off ties qualify for the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase.
The defeated teams do not leave European competition. They move into the UEFA Conference League league phase for the 2026/27 season.
This is an important correction from the original draft: losing teams in the Europa League play-offs enter the Conference League league phase, not another Conference League play-off round.
READ ALSO: 2026/27 UEFA Champions League: Third qualifying round results, talking points & playoffs fixtures
When Is the Europa League League Phase Draw?
The UEFA Europa League league phase draw takes place on Friday, 28 August 2026, from 13:00 CET.
The league phase begins on 16 and 17 September 2026.
FAQs
How many teams qualified from the Europa League third qualifying round?
Thirteen teams progressed from the Europa League third qualifying round to the play-offs.
When were the Europa League third qualifying round second legs played?
The second legs were played on 11, 13 and 14 August 2026.
When are the Europa League play-offs?
The first legs are on 20 August 2026 and the second legs are on 27 August 2026.
What happens to teams that lose in the Europa League play-offs?
They enter the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League league phase.
When is the Europa League league phase draw?
The draw is on Friday, 28 August 2026.
Conclusion
The third qualifying round has narrowed the race for the 2026/27 Europa League league phase. With the play-off draw confirmed, the remaining clubs now have one final two-legged tie to secure their place in the competition.
READ ALSO: 2026/27 UEFA Europa League: Third qualifying round results, talking points & playoffs fixtures
