Europa League draw, opponents, squad and financial rules for Sunderland explained | OneFootball

Sunderland will play in the Europa League next season after a final-day win over Chelsea and other results secured their first European qualification since 1973.

According to Sunderland Echo, finishing seventh sends Sunderland straight into the league phase, while Brighton take the Premier League’s Conference League berth. It guarantees eight fixtures, four home and four away.

There are four qualifying rounds before the draw, whose second legs fall on 27 August, with the draw on 28 August. The league phase begins on 16-17 September and runs across eight gameweeks to late January.

Teams are seeded into four pots by coefficient, then drawn to face two from each pot, one at home and one away. After eight games, the top eight reach the last 16, the bottom eight go out, and 16th to 24th contest a two-legged play-off.

Sunderlands pot is to be confirmed, and they are unlikely to be in the top pot given their recent lack of European football. The final line-up will also be shaped by qualifiers and Champions League drop-outs.

Direct entry brings at least four lucrative home ties. Last season league-phase participation paid £3.7 million, with each win worth £389,000 and a draw £130,000.

UEFA caps European clubs at 70% of revenue on first-team costs. List A holds 25 players, with eight homegrown, four club-trained and four association-trained between 15 and 21, otherwise spots are forfeited. Under-21s may join List B after interrupted two-year eligibility since 15. The final is in Frankfurt’s Waldstadion on 26 May 2027.

Source: Sunderland Echo