What is the commencement date for the Europa League?

The footballing world is gearing up for an exciting 2025/26 season, with the UEFA Europa League set to undergo significant changes and welcome a new participant – VfB Stuttgart.

The qualifying rounds to determine the remaining participants in the Europa League will commence soon, with the competition proper scheduled to begin on September 24, 2025. The league phase will see 36 teams compete, each playing eight games, in a departure from the traditional group stage format. Notably, there will be no relegations in this season.

VfB Stuttgart, who have qualified for international competition by winning the DFB-Pokal against Arminia Bielefeld (4:2), will be among the 13 teams already confirmed for the tournament. The others include Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, AS Roma, FC Bologna, Real Betis, Celta Vigo, Lille OSC, Olympique Lyon, Go Ahead Eagles, FC Porto, and Dinamo Zagreb. The complete field will be set on August 28.

The Europa League draw, which will determine the match-ups for the league phase, is scheduled for August 29, 2025, in Nyon, Switzerland. The league phase games will be played on Thursdays, with an exception on the first week. The round of 16 will take place from March 12-19, 2026, followed by the knockout phase play-offs from February 19-26, 2026. The semi-finals will take place from April 30 - May 7, 2026, leading up to the grand finale on May 20, 2026, at Istanbul's Beşiktaş Park.

Meanwhile, in the domestic front, the 2025/26 Bundesliga season kicks off this Saturday with VfB Stuttgart as a participant. Their first opponent in the league is Union Berlin. The rush for tickets to VfB Stuttgart's international matches in the 2025/26 Europa League will begin soon, as fans eagerly anticipate the club's European adventure.

The exact dates of the first round (first qualifying round) of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 season are July 10 and July 17, 2025. With the Europa League, along with the Champions League, being played in a league system this season, the stage is set for an unpredictable and thrilling European campaign.