How Crystal Palace’s Europa League berth could reshape Leeds United’s 2026/27 fixtures | OneFootball

Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final has set up a record level of English participation in Europe next season, a shift likely to affect Leeds United’s 2026/27 schedule.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, almost half of Leeds’ Premier League rivals will be in Europe after Palace lifted their first European trophy on Wednesday night. The Eagles finished one place and two points below Leeds, and now qualify for the Europa League.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool are in the Champions League, with Bournemouth and Sunderland joining Palace in the Europa League and Brighton and Hove Albion taking the Conference League berth. For the second straight year a bottom-half team has triumphed in Europe, Tottenham Hotspur finished 17th last season and won the Europa League.

Premier League rules mean teams playing in Europe on a Thursday cannot then play domestically on the Saturday, those fixtures move to Sunday. With four sides set for regular Thursday nights, Leeds could often face Bournemouth, Sunderland, Palace or Brighton on the Sunday. Last season, two Leeds games were pushed back, a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest and a 0-0 draw at Palace in March.

European weeks also limit Friday and Monday slots, since a Wednesday or Thursday tie cannot be followed by a Friday league match, and Monday cannot precede a Tuesday or Wednesday in Europe. With nine clubs involved, broadcasters have fewer options, and Carabao Cup progress further squeezes midweeks.

Sky Sports are meant to pick any team no more than five times across Friday and Monday, yet Leeds were chosen seven times. As a big non-European draw, they remain vulnerable to extra TV selections.

There is a potential upside, as a lighter calendar can aid fitness. Leeds played 44 matches last season, compared with Tottenham Hotspur’s 52, Nottingham Forest’s 56 and Palace’s 60, and were able to manage Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor until safety was confirmed. Leeds will learn more when fixtures are released on Friday, June 19, with the season due to start the weekend of August 22/23.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk