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UEFA will hold the 2026-27 league-phase draws for the Europa League and Conference League on Friday, with Besiktas and Trabzonspor both waiting to learn their opponents pending the outcome of Thursday's play-off second legs.
The ceremony takes place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, one day after the UEFA Champions League draw at the same venue.
Thirty-six teams will enter each draw, split into pots based on club coefficient rankings. Each side will face eight different opponents in the Europa League league phase and six in the Conference League league phase, four at home and the rest away, replacing the traditional group-stage format UEFA introduced across its three club competitions in 2024.
Besiktas and Trabzonspor, two of Türkiye's most decorated clubs, both entered this season's play-off round and are on course for contrasting draws depending on Thursday's results.
Besiktas carries a 3-0 aggregate lead into its second leg against Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris at Dariaus and Gireno Stadium in Kaunas, Lithuania, after a dominant first-leg win at Tupras Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, where Oh Hyeon-gyu, Amir Murillo and Orkun Kokcu scored.
Trabzonspor faces a steeper task in Hungary, traveling to Groupama Arena in Budapest to face Ferencvaros after a 1-0 first-leg defeat at Papara Park in Trabzon, Türkiye. Kristoffer Zachariassen's header proved the difference in the opening match, in which Trabzonspor also finished with 10 men following a second-half red card.
Under UEFA's play-off structure, winners of Thursday's ties advance directly into Friday's Europa League league-phase draw, while the defeated sides drop into the Conference League draw alongside 12 other beaten Europa League play-off teams.
The Europa League field for 2026-27 includes clubs such as AC Milan, Juventus, Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen, along with automatic qualifiers, transfers from the Champions League qualifying rounds and defeated Champions League play-off sides.
The Conference League draw, held immediately afterward, comprises play-off round winners and beaten Europa League play-off teams across six pots.
UEFA is expected to publish fixture lists for both competitions, including match dates and kickoff times, no later than Sunday. The Europa League league phase begins in mid-September, with the Conference League following in mid-October.
Besiktas last featured in a UEFA league phase during the 2024-25 Europa League season, when it finished 28th among 36 teams and did not advance to the knockout rounds.
Trabzonspor, the reigning Turkish Cup holder, is competing in Europe this season after finishing third in last season's Super Lig.
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