New format
The first phase of the main tournament of the second European competition consists of 36 teams this season. These teams will no longer be divided into groups, but will each play eight matches in the 'League Phase': four at home and four away against eight different teams. A ranking list will then determine who advances and who is eliminated.
The top eight on the ranking list will, after eight matchdays, advance directly to the last sixteen. Teams ranked nine through 24 will play knockout matches against each other to determine which eight teams will also qualify for the last sixteen. The teams ranked 25 through 36 will be eliminated from the European competition.
Draw
During the draw, the participating teams are divided into four pots of nine teams, based on the club coefficient. Ajax is in Pot 1. Each team will then be paired with two teams from each pot, with one match being at home and one match away. In the league phase, teams cannot be drawn against teams from the same country (this restriction can be lifted in exceptional cases to ensure a valid match schedule) and can face a maximum of two teams from the same country.
A team from each pot is selected manually. The software then determines who the opponents will be and whether the matches are home or away. The schedule will be announced by UEFA on Saturday, August 31.
The Europa League draw begins on Friday, August 30 at 13:00.
