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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Chris Wilson

When is the Conference League draw for the last 16? Date, time and qualified teams

Clubs including Crystal Palace will find out their potential routes to the final in Leipzig in May - (AFP via Getty Images)

The draw for the knockout rounds of the Europa Conference League will be completed this week as teams including Crystal Palace learn their potential route to May’s final in Leipzig.

Tonight’s midweek play-off matches will send eight teams though to the last 16 to join the clubs who finished in the top eight of the league phase, with the likes of Strasbourg, Sparta Praha and Shakhtar Donetsk possibly joined by sole Premier League representatives Palace.

The outline of the draw has already been made, with teams grouped into small four-way pools of possible opponents based on their league placings.

The Eagles, who finished 10th in the league phase, would face either German side Mainz or Cypriot club AEK Larnaca if they are able to navigate safely through their play-off tie against Zrinksji Mostar, which is currently poised at 1-1 ahead of the second leg at Selhurst Park.

When is the draw?

The Conference League last-16 draw will take place in Nyon at 1pm GMT (2pm local time) on Friday 27 February.

How to watch online

The draw will be streamed live on Uefa’s website, YouTube channel and Conference League app.

Which teams have qualified for the last-16?

The top eight sides in this season’s Conference League league phase await in the knockout rounds. They are:

  1. Strasbourg
  2. Rakow Czestochowa
  3. AEK Athens
  4. Sparta Praha
  5. Rayo Vallecano
  6. Shakhtar Donetsk
  7. Mainz
  8. AEK Larnaca

Who has advanced via the play-offs?

The teams who finished between ninth and 24th in the league phase went into the play-offs. The second legs are being played this week:

  • Zrinksji Mostar 1-1 Crystal Palace
  • Sigma Olomouc 1-1 Lausanne
  • FC Drita 2-3 NK Celje
  • Jagiellonia Bialystok 0 -3 Fiorentina
  • KF Shkendija 0-1 Samsunspor
  • Omonoia 0-1 Rijeka
  • Noah 1-0 AZ Alkmaar
  • KuPS 0-2 Lech Poznan

The teams have been grouped into seeded couplets according to how they finished in the league phase, so, for example, Strasbourg (who finished top) or Rakow Czestochowa (who finished second) will play the winners of either Omonoia vs Rijeka or Fiorentina vs Jagiellonia.

Teams from the same national league can play each other in the knockout rounds.

Here are the possible last-16 draw permutations:

Strasbourg and Rakow Czestochowa will be drawn against:

  • Omonoia / Rijeka or Fiorentina / Jagiellonia.

AEK Athens and Sparta Praha will be drawn against:

  • Noah / AZ Alkmaar or FC Drita / NK Celje

Rayo Vallecano and Shakhtar Donetsk will be drawn against:

  • KF Shkendija / Samsunspor or KuPS / Lech Poznan

Mainz and AEK Larnaca will be drawn against:

  • Zrinksji Mostar / Crystal Palace or Sigma Olomouc / Lausanne

What are the match dates?

The last-16 ties will take place in mid-March. Here are the remaining round dates:

Round of 16: 11/12 & 18/19 March 2026

Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April 2026

Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 May 2026

Final: 26/27 May 2026 (Leipzig)

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