The Europa League group stage is set to return for what is expected to be another exciting season, with some of the most of historic teams from across the continent involved.
Manchester United and Arsenal missed out on the Champions League places and will compete for Europe’s second prize. Both will see it as a realistic option to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma will also fancy their chances following their success in the inaugural Europa Conference League last season.
There will also be Champions League sides dropping down for the knockout stages to contend with.
Sportsmail provides you with everything you need to know for the Europa League draw including date, time and TV channel.
Man United will look to secure Champions League qualification by winning the Europa League
United lifted the Europa League trophy under Jose Mourinho in 2017 after beating Ajax 2-1
Arsenal will also fancy their chances after just missing out on the Champions League last term
When is the Europa League draw?
The 2022-23 UEFA Europa League group-stage draw will take place on Friday 26th August in Istanbul, Turkey. It will be live from 12pm GMT.
How can I watch it?
The draw will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1. BT Sport subscribers can watch the draw via the BT Sport app or website, while the draw will also be broadcast for free via UEFA’s YouTube and social media channels.
Erik ten Hag’s United will be in pot one for the Europa League group-stage draw on Friday
When does the group stage start?
The group stage starts on Thursday 8th September. Teams are facing a hectic schedule, which has been condensed because of the World Cup.
Typically, the first phase of the tournament would conclude in mid-December, but this season it will finish at the beginning of November.
The dates are as follows:
Matchday 1: 8 September 2022
Matchday 2: 15 September 2022
Matchday 3: 6 October 2022
Matchday 4: 13 October 2022
Matchday 5: 27 October 2022
Matchday 6: 3 November 2022
How does the group stage work?
In the group-stage draw, 32 teams will be in the pot. Then, it all gets a bit complicated. Before the draw, teams are split into four seeding pots.
It includes 12 automatic entrants, 10 Europa League play-off winners and 10 sides transferring from the Champions League play-offs (6) or third qualifying round League path (4).
Teams will be drawn into eight groups of four, each containing one team from each seeding pot.
The four pots have not yet been confirmed as there are 10 play-off second legs due to be held on Thursday night.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will also be in Pot One for the group-stage draw in Istanbul, Turkey
Teams and Pots
Pot one: Roma, Manchester United, Arsenal, Lazio, Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Dynamo Kyiv, Olympiacos.
Pot two: Feyenoord, Rennes, Monaco, Real Sociedad, PSV Eindhoven, Qarabag, Malmo, Ludogorets.
Pot three: Sheriff, Real Betis, Midtjylland, Bodo/Glimt, Ferencvaros, Union Berlin, SC Freiburg, Fenerbahce.
Pot four: Nantes, HJK Helsinki, Sturm Graz, AEK Larnaca, Omonoia, FC Zurich, Trabzonspor, Union Saint-Gilloise
Eintracht Frankfurt won the Europa League last season to book their place in the Champions League
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