The 2024/25 UEFA Europa League has introduced a brand-new format, aligning with the structural changes seen in the Champions League.
This season, the competition has expanded its field, replacing the traditional group stage with a single-league format that reshapes the road to the knockouts.
Teams finishing in the top eight of the league standings will secure direct passage to the Round of 16. Meanwhile, those ranked between ninth and 24th will have to fight for their spot through a two-legged playoff. These matchups will be determined by a draw, with the winners moving forward to complete the last 16, while the losing sides will see their European journey come to an end.
This revamped system intensifies the battle for qualification, making every league-phase fixture crucial.
The Sporting News looks at when this draw for the Europa League knockout playoffs will take place.
When is the UEFA Europa League knockout playoff draw?
The draw for the 2024/25 knockout-round playoffs takes place on Friday, January 31.
The ceremony will be held at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Although no time has yet been confirmed, the Europa League procedure is generally held after the Champions League version. That means the start time is likely to be around 1 p.m. CET.
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Fri, Jan. 31 | 7 a.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Fri, Jan. 31 | 4 a.m. PT |
| UK | Fri, Jan. 31 | 12 p.m. GMT |
How to watch the UEFA Europa League knockout playoff draw on TV and online
The UEFA Europa League knockout playoff draw can be streamed worldwide on UEFA.com, but is also televised or streamed online in various nations around the globe.
Here’s a list of broadcasters from an array of territories where the 2025 Europa League knockout playoff draw can be watched live.
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | — | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| UK | TNT Sports 2 | Discovery+ |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| International | — | UEFA.com |
TNT Sports will broadcast UEFA Europa League knockout playoff draw on Friday in the UK.
In the US, it will be available to watch on CBS Sports Golazo Network. Viewers can catch all of the playoff action live on Paramount+, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
UEFA Europa League knockout playoff draw rules, regulations
The Europa League knockout play-off draw closely mirrors the format used in the Champions League. A total of 16 teams will be involved, split into seeded and unseeded groups based on their league standings.
The teams finishing ninth to 16th will receive seeded status, granting them the advantage of playing the second leg at home—except in extraordinary cases. Meanwhile, sides that place 17th to 24th will be unseeded and paired against these higher-ranked opponents.
However, the specific league position of each team plays a crucial role in determining matchups. UEFA’s rules ensure that the top-ranked seeded sides are matched with the lowest-ranked unseeded teams. For instance, teams finishing in ninth and 10th place will go up against those who placed 23rd or 24th.
Similarly, 11th and 12th-placed teams will be drawn against those ranking 21st or 22nd, continuing in this structured pattern.
Notably, there are no restrictions on clubs from the same country facing each other in these play-offs. This means teams that have already met in the league phase could clash again. For example, if both Manchester United and Tottenham finish within the ninth to 24th range, they could be drawn against one another despite belonging to the same national association.
Which teams are in the hat for the UEFA Europa League knockout playoff draw?
The teams that finish from ninth to 24th in the league-phase standings will qualify for the knockout playoffs.
Teams in qualifying spots for Europa League knockout playoffs as things stand.
| Pos. | Club | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Bodø/Glimt | Norway |
| 10 | Anderlecht | Belgium |
| 11 | FCSB | Romania |
| 12 | Ajax | Netherlands |
| 13 | Real Sociedad | Spain |
| 14 | Galatasaray | Turkey |
| 15 | Roma | Italy |
| 16 | Viktoria Plzeň | Czech Republic |
| 17 | Ferencváros | Hungary |
| 18 | Porto | Portugal |
| 19 | AZ Alkmaar | Netherlands |
| 20 | Midtjylland | Denmark |
| 21 | Union SG | Belgium |
| 22 | PAOK | Greece |
| 23 | Twente | Netherlands |
| 24 | Fenerbahçe | Turkey |
When are the UEFA Europa League knockout playoffs?
The first legs of the playoffs take place on February 13, 2025, one day after the first legs of the Champions League knockout playoffs. The second legs are a week later, on February 20.
The draw to decide the Round of 16 ties, plus the bracket for the quarterfinals and semifinals, is held on February 21 following the conclusion of the Champions League draw.
MORE: All the latest Europa League news | How does the 2024/25 Champions League work? | Full UCL match schedule
