Thirty-two teams will enter. Another eight will arrive in the knockouts. Only one will be named champion.
The marathon that's known as the UEFA Europa League enters the group stage for the 2021-22 season, with a more normal schedule set after the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated truncated versions over the past two seasons.
The bigger leagues are well represented, as usual, in the current edition, with the likes of Leicester City, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli and Real Sociedad joined by clubs from smaller circuits throughout the continent.
With such a varied set of teams, there's always potential for things to go against plan — which is a lot of the fun of these kinds of competitions.
Will the cream rise to the top as expected, or will fans be treated to a Cinderella story (or two) along the way to the final?
Here's everything you need to know about this season's Europa League.
Which teams are in the Europa League 2021-22 group stage?
| Group A | Group B |
| Olympique Lyonnais | Monaco |
| Rangers | PSV |
| Sparta Prague | Real Sociedad |
| Brondby | Sturm |
| Group C | Group D |
| Napoli | Olympiacos |
| Leicester | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| Spartak Moscow | Fenerbahce |
| Legia | Antwerp |
| Group E | Group F |
| Lazio | Braga |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | Red Star Belgrade |
| Olympique Marseille | Ludogorets |
| Galatasaray | Midtjylland |
| Group G | Group H |
| Bayer Leverkusen | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Celtic | Genk |
| Real Betis | West Ham |
| Ferencvaros | Rapid Wien |
When are the Europa League 2021-22 draw dates and match dates?
| Phase | Draw date | Match dates |
| Group stage | Aug. 26, 2021 | Sept. 16-Dec. 9, 2021 |
| Round of 32 | Dec. 13, 2021 | Feb. 17-24, 2022 |
| Round of 16 | TBD | March 10-17, 2022 |
|
Quarterfinals Semifinals Final | TBD |
April 7-14, 2022 April 28-May 5, 2022 May 18, 2022 |
The group-stage draw took place on Aug. 27, 2021, in Istanbul, Turkey, setting the roadmap for all 48 participating teams.
Draws for the knockout rounds will be held at a later date.
Europa League 2020-22 group stage fixtures, results
Matchday 1
| Date | Time (ET) | Fixture | Stream |
| Sept. 15 | 10:30 a.m. | Spartak Moscow 0-1 Legia Warsaw | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 12:45 p.m. | Leverkusen 2-1 Ferencvaros | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 12:45 p.m. | Galatasaray 1-0 Lazio | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 12:45 p.m. | Midtjylland 1-1 Ludogorets | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 12:45 p.m. | Lokomotiv Moscow 1-1 Marseille | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 12:45 p.m. | Rapid Wien 0-1 Genk | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 12:45 p.m. | Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 West Ham | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 12:45 p.m. | Real Betis 4-3 Celtic | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 12:45 p.m. | Red Star Belgrade 2-1 Braga | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 3:00 p.m. | Monaco 1-0 SK Sturm Graz | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 3:00 p.m. | Olympiacos 2-1 Antwerp | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 3:00 p.m. | Rangers 0-2 Lyon | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 3:00 p.m. | PSV 2-2 Real Sociedad | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 3:00 p.m. | Brondby 0-0 Sparta Prague | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 3:00 p.m. | Leicester City 2-2 Napoli | DAZN |
| Sept. 16 | 3:00 p.m. | Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Fenerbahce | DAZN |
Matchday 2
| Date | Time (ET) | Fixture | Stream |
| Sept. 30 | 12:45 p.m. | Antwerp 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 12:45 p.m. | Legia Warsaw 1-0 Leicester City | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 12:45 p.m. | Sparta Prague 1-0 Rangers | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 12:45 p.m. | Napoli 2-3 Spartak Moscow | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 12:45 p.m. | SK Sturm Graz 1-4 PSV | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 12:45 p.m. | Lyon 3-0 Brondby | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 12:45 p.m. | Fenerbahce 0-3 Olympiacos | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 12:45 p.m. | Real Sociedad 1-1 Monaco | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 3:00 p.m. | Ferencvaros 1-3 Real Betis | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 3:00 p.m. | Braga 3-1 Midtjylland | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 3:00 p.m. | Ludogorets 0-1 Red Star Belgrade | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 3:00 p.m. | Marseille 0-0 Galatasaray | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 3:00 p.m. | Lazio 2-0 Lokomotiv Moscow | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 3:00 p.m. | Genk 0-3 Dinamo Zagreb | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 3:00 p.m. | West Ham 2-0 Rapid Wien | DAZN |
| Sept. 30 | 3:00 p.m. | Celtic 0-4 Leverkusen | DAZN |
Matchday 3
| Date | Time (ET) | Fixture | Stream |
| Oct. 19 | 10:30 a.m. | Celtic 2-0 Ferencvaros | DAZN |
| Oct. 20 | 10:30 a.m. | Spartak Moscow 3-4 Leicester City | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 12:45 p.m. | Rapid Wien 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 12:45 p.m. | Real Betis 1-1 Leverkusen | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 12:45 p.m. | Lazio 0-0 Marseille | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 12:45 p.m. | Fenerbahce 2-2 Antwerp | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 12:45 p.m. | Ludogorets 0-1 Braga | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 12:45 p.m. | Midtjylland 1-1 Red Star Belgrade | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Sparta Prague 3-4 Lyon | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | SK Sturm Graz 0-1 Real Sociedad | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | West Ham 3-0 Genk | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Lokomotiv Moscow 0-1 Galatasaray | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Napoli 3-1 Legia Warsaw | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | PSV 1-2 Monaco | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Rangers 2-0 Brondby | DAZN |
| Oct. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 Olympiacos | DAZN |
Matchday 4
| Date | Time (ET) | Fixture | Stream |
| Nov. 4 | 1:45 p.m. | Galatasaray 1-1 Lokomotiv Moscow | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 1:45 p.m. | Real Sociedad 1-1 SK Sturm Graz | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 1:45 p.m. | Genk 2-2 West Ham | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 1:45 p.m. | Brondby 1-1 Rangers | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 1:45 p.m. | Lyon 3-0 Sparta Prague | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 1:45 p.m. | Legia Warsaw 1-4 Napoli | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 1:45 p.m. | Olympiacos 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 1:45 p.m. | Monaco 0-0 PSV | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Leicester City 1-1 Spartak Moscow | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Braga 4-2 Ludogorets | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Leverkusen 4-0 Real Betis | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Antwerp 0-3 Fenerbahce | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Ferencvaros 2-3 Celtic | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 Rapid Wien | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Red Star Belgrade 0-1 Midtjylland | DAZN |
| Nov. 4 | 4:00 p.m. | Marseille 2-2 Lazio | DAZN |
Matchday 5
| Date | Time (ET) | Fixture | Stream |
| Nov. 24 | 10:30 a.m. | Spartak Moscow 2-1 Napoli | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | Red Star Belgrade 1-0 Ludogorets | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | Rapid Wien 0-2 West Ham | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | Midtjylland 3-2 Braga | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | Lokomotiv Moscow 0-3 Lazio | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | Dinamo Zagreb 1-1 Genk | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | Real Betis 2-0 Ferencvaros | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | Galatasaray 4-2 Marseille | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | Leverkusen 3-2 Celtic | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Olympiacos 1-0 Fenerbahce | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 3:00 p.m. | PSV 2-0 SK Sturm Graz | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Rangers 2-0 Sparta Prague | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Leicester City 3-1 Legia Warsaw | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Antwerp | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Monaco 2-1 Real Sociedad | DAZN |
| Nov. 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Brondby 1-3 Lyon | DAZN |
Matchday 6
| Date | Time (ET) | Fixture | Stream |
| Dec. 9 | 12:45 p.m. | Sparta Prague 2-0 Brondby | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 12:45 p.m. | Antwerp 1-0 Olympiacos | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 12:45 p.m. | Fenerbahce 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 12:45 p.m. | SK Sturm Graz 1-1 Monaco | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 12:45 p.m. | Napoli 3-2 Leicester City | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 12:45 p.m. | Lyon 1-1 Rangers | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 12:45 p.m. | Legia Warsaw 0-1 Spartak Moscow | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 12:45 p.m. | Real Sociedad 3-0 PSV | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 3:00 p.m. | Ferencvaros 1-0 Leverkusen | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 3:00 p.m. | West Ham 0-1 Dinamo Zagreb | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 3:00 p.m. | Marseille 1-0 Lokomotiv Moscow | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 3:00 p.m. | Ludogorets 0-0 Midtjylland | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 3:00 p.m. | Celtic 3-2 Real Betis | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 3:00 p.m. | Braga 1-1 Red Star Belgrade | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 3:00 p.m. | Lazio 0-0 Galatasaray | DAZN |
| Dec. 9 | 3:00 p.m. | Genk 0-1 Rapid Wien | DAZN |
How to watch Europa League 2021-22: Live stream on DAZN
In Canada, UEFA Europa League matches are available exclusively on DAZN, the live streaming sports service.
DAZN is available on web browsers at DAZN.com, plus many popular streaming devices, including: iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, LG Smart TV, Panasonic Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S.
Where will the Europa League 2021-22 final be played?
Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville, Spain, will play host to the final. The match was originally scheduled for the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, but coronavirus-related postponements in previous editions shifted the hosting duties.
The Europa League final is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18, 2021, with a 3 p.m. ET kickoff.
Which Canadians are playing in Europa League 2021-22?
Milan Borjan, Red Star Belgrade
Canada's No. 1, Milan Borjan has been a mainstay in European competitions for years.
He gets another crack at glory as the leader of Red Star Belgrade, which advanced to the round of 32 last season and was only eliminated on away goals after drawing consecutive matches against Italian power AC Milan.
Scott Arfield, Rangers
The dependable central midfielder brings a wealth of experience and attacking nous to a Rangers side eager for continental glory.
Arfield hasn't featured for Canada since 2019, but head coach John Herdman said recently that the 32-year-old could still be in the mix for the team's World Cup qualifying campaign. Ragerdless, Arfield looks to play a prominent role for Steven Gerrard's Rangers in Group A.
Iké Ugbo, Genk
A recent recruit to the Canadian national team, Ugbo played for England's youth sides and was eligible for Nigeria before committing to the Maple Leaf. The 23-year-old striker is a product of Chelsea and broke out as a legitimate scoring threat at the men's level during loan spells to Roda JC and Cercle Brugge.