Europa League 2025-26

The Europa League's restructured format mirrors the Champions League's league phase system, with 36 clubs competing in eight rounds of home-and-away matches across the autumn before the knockout rounds begin in February. The league phase produces the top eight clubs who advance directly to the round of 16, while clubs finishing 9th to 24th enter a two-legged play-off round to earn their knockout berth. Clubs finishing 25th or below are eliminated, while the bottom clubs from the Champions League league phase enter the Europa League's play-off round — creating the cross-competition pathway that adds strategic interest to the expanded format.

Eintracht Frankfurt represent one of the most compelling stories in the competition. The German club's 2022 Europa League title — won against Sevilla on penalties after an extraordinary semi-final against West Ham at the London Stadium — demonstrated that passionate supporter culture, a unified squad identity, and an experienced European coach can produce tournament-winning results even without the squad depth of the biggest clubs. Frankfurt's tactical evolution under their current management has maintained that European ambition while building a domestic platform that makes them consistent Bundesliga top-half finishers. The combination of experience, continuity, and Omar Marmoush's explosive forward play makes them one of the most credible contenders in the 2025-26 field.

Tottenham Hotspur's European history under various managers has been defined by dramatic exits and near-misses, with the exception of their 2019 Champions League final run — ultimately unsuccessful against Liverpool in Madrid. The Europa League represents an opportunity to finally add a European trophy to a famous club's cabinet. Son Heung-min, as Spurs' all-time top scorer and a player who has demonstrated his quality in European competition repeatedly, would be a deserving final-winner if Tottenham can navigate the knockout rounds. The manager's ability to keep the squad engaged across a 40-50 match season while competing across multiple competitions is the logistical challenge that will define whether Spurs' European ambition translates into tangible progress.