The UEFA Europa League and Conference League draws took place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on August 30, 2024, unveiling a new league format and potential opponents for participating teams. This marks a significant change from the traditional group stage, with both competitions now featuring 36 teams in a league-style system.Turkish clubs Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş will represent their country in the Europa League, while Başakşehir FK is set to compete in the Conference League. Under the new format, Europa League teams will face 8 opponents (4 home and 4 away matches), while Conference League participants will play against 6 teams (3 home and 3 away games).The revamped structure sees the top 8 teams in each league directly qualifying for the round of 16, with teams ranked 9-24 competing in play-offs for the remaining spots. The Europa League schedule spans from September 25-26, 2024, to January 23, 2025, comprising seven matchdays.Potential opponents for the Turkish teams in the Europa League include high-profile clubs such as Roma, Manchester United, Porto, and Tottenham. The draw has placed Fenerbahçe in the second pot, while Galatasaray and Beşiktaş find themselves in the third and fourth pots respectively.This new format is expected to bring fresh excitement to the competitions, with UEFA officials expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming season. As one UEFA representative stated, ‘It is a great day for Turkish football, and we are excited to see the teams compete in the Europa League’.
Key points
- UEFA Europa League and Conference League adopt new 36-team league format, replacing traditional group stage.
- Turkish clubs Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş to compete in Europa League; Başakşehir FK in Conference League.
- Top 8 teams qualify directly for round of 16; teams ranked 9-24 enter play-offs.
- Europa League schedule runs from September 25, 2024, to January 23, 2025.
