New layout
The first phase of the main tournament of the second European tournament this season consists of 36 teams. These teams are no longer divided into groups, but each play eight matches in the ‘League Phase’: four times at home and four times away against eight different teams. A ranking then determines who advances and who is eliminated.
The top eight teams in the rankings, after eight rounds, go directly to the last sixteen. Numbers nine to 24 play knockout matches against each other to determine which eight teams also qualify for the last sixteen. Numbers 25 to 36 are eliminated in Europe.
Draw
During the draw, the participating teams are divided into four pots of nine teams based on the club coefficient. Ajax is in pot 1. Each team is paired with two teams from each pot, of which one match is at home and one match is away. In the competition phase, teams cannot draw against teams from the same country (this restriction can be waived in exceptional cases to allow for a valid playing schedule) and can meet a maximum of two teams from the same country.
A team will be chosen manually from each pot. The software will then determine who the opponents will be and which matches will be home and away. The schedule will be announced by UEFA on Saturday 31 August.
The Europa League draw starts on Friday 30 August at 13:00 CET.
