The league phase of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 season has officially come to an end, bringing greater clarity to the race for one of European football’s most coveted trophies. After weeks of intense, high-stakes football across the continent, the top 24 clubs have earned the right to continue their European journey.

The format rewards consistency and ambition. The top eight sides in the overall standings have secured automatic qualification for the round of 16, avoiding the risks and drama of the knockout play-offs. For the remaining teams finishing between ninth and 24th, the road to glory will be tougher — and potentially more thrilling.

Direct qualification to the round of 16
Aston Villa (England), SC Braga (Portugal), Olympique Lyonnais (France), FC Midtjylland (Denmark), FC Porto (Portugal), Real Betis (Spain), AS Roma (Italy) and SC Freiburg (Germany) emerged as the standout performers of the league phase.

These clubs demonstrated tactical maturity, squad depth and European know-how — qualities that could prove decisive as the competition enters its most unforgiving stages.

Knockout play-off round contenders
The teams finishing just outside the top eight will now battle it out over two legs for a place in the last 16. The play-off line-up includes Bologna, SK Brann, Viktoria Plzeň, KRC Genk, Dinamo Zagreb, Lille OSC, Ludogorets Razgrad, Nottingham Forest, Panathinaikos, PAOK, Celtic, Celta Vigo, Fenerbahçe, Ferencváros, Red Star Belgrade and VfB Stuttgart.