Crystal Palace’s 2025/26 Europa League Opponents: 21 Teams Confirmed

Oliver Glasner will lead Crystal Palace into the Europa League next season, and already some exciting opponents have been confirmed for the competition.

Crystal Palace achieved a historic milestone by securing their first major trophy with a victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final held at Wembley Stadium. This win not only brings a significant cash prize to the club but also ensures their participation in the Europa League. It’s an eagerly awaited first for the Eagles, with supporters already dreaming of midweek excursions across Europe.

Several well-known European clubs have already been confirmed for the Europa League, and here’s a look at the potential matchups Crystal Palace could face during the 2025/26 campaign.

First Qualifying Round 
In the first qualifying round, 16 teams will compete, with seven already confirmed. Among the most notable for UK fans are Polish side Legia Warsaw and Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk—Legia having been eliminated from the Conference League by Chelsea this season, while Shakhtar participated in the Champions League. Other teams confirmed include CFR Cluj from Romania, Celje from Slovenia, Spartak Trnava from Slovakia, Paks from Hungary, and Aktobe from Kazakhstan. Additional entries will come from teams in Israel, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Croatia, and Sweden. The draw for this round is set for June 17.

 Second Qualifying Round 
Scottish Premiership club Hibernian will be among those entering in the second qualifying round, making it a potentially easier trip for Crystal Palace fans should they face off. They will compete with Utrecht from the Netherlands, Braga from Portugal, and Anderlecht from Belgium. Teams from the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Turkey, and Denmark will also participate but are yet to be confirmed. The draw is scheduled for June 18.

Third Qualifying Round 
This round introduces a bit more complexity with both a Champions Path and a Main Path, although Crystal Palace fans need not worry as the club has already qualified for the league phase. A total of 26 teams will contest this round, with Austrian side Wolfsberg, Norwegian club Fredrikstad, and Greek team PAOK already confirmed. The draw will take place on July 21.

Play-off Round 
In the play-off round, 24 teams will come together. Belgian side Genk and Czech club Sigma Olomouc are confirmed participants at this stage. They will be joined by a Turkish, Scottish, and Swiss side, alongside 13 winners from the third qualifying round and six teams exiting from the Champions League third qualifying round. The draw is scheduled for August 4.

 League Phase 
Five already confirmed continental teams will join Crystal Palace as the league phase gets underway. Interestingly, Portuguese powerhouse Porto and French team Lille are featured. Dutch squad Go Ahead Eagles and German club SC Freiburg have also been confirmed.