It's Europa League draw day, probably one of the days West Ham fans were most looking forward to after winning the Europa Conference League last season.
The Hammers were the first team out of Pot 1, being handed a favourable draw as they face Olympiacos, Freiburg and TSC Bracka Topola in Group A. Meanwhile, Brighton have had a very different outcome in their draw up against European giants Ajax and Marseille in Group B alongside Maccabi Haifa.
Liverpool fans can look forward to trips to Austria and Belgium in their draw as they face fixtures against LASK, Union St-Gilloise and Toulouse.
Fixtures for all matches will be announced in due course, with teams hoping to progress and earn their spot at this year's Europa League final in Dublin.
Key Events
Europa League final date
The final will take place on Wednesday, 22 May, 2024 at the 50,000-capacity Dublin Arena, also known as the Aviva Stadium.
It is the second time that it will be hosted there, with the 2011 Europa League final having been won by Porto at the same venue.
Will it be a short hop over the Irish sea for Liverpool, and can Brighton and West Ham make it there as well? We will find out over the course of the next eight months.
Europa League matchday schedule
- Matchday 1: 21 September
- Matchday 2: 5 October
- Matchday 3: 26 October
- Matchday 4: 9 November
- Matchday 5: 30 November
- Matchday 6: 14 December
Europa League draw in full
Following the conclusion of the draw, here is the Europa League group stage in full:
Group A: West Ham, Olympiacos, Freiburg, TSC Bačka Topola
Group B: Ajax, Marseille, Brighton, AEK Athens
Group C: Rangers, Real Betis, Slavia Prague, Aris Limassol
Group D: Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon, Sturm Graz, Raków Czestochowa
Group E: Liverpool, LASK, Union SG, Toulouse
Group F: Villareal, Rennes, Maccabi Haifa, Panathinaikos
Group G: Roma, Slavia Prague, Sheriff, Servette
Group H: Bayer Leverkusen, Qarabag, Molde, Hacken
Pot 4 underway
TSC Bačka Topola have been drawn into West Ham's group, with AEK Athens joining Ajax, Marseille and Brighton in group B.
Draw in full so far:
Group A: West Ham, Olympiacos, Freiburg
Group B: Ajax, Marseille, Brighton
Group C: Rangers, Real Betis, Slavia Prague
Group D: Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon, Sturm Graz
Group E: Liverpool, LASK, Union SG
Group F: Villareal, Rennes, Maccabi Haifa
Group G: Roma, Slavia Prague, Sheriff
Group H: Bayer Leverkusen, Qarabag, Molde
Brighton get a tough draw
Brighton have been drawn into Group B alongside former European champions Marseille and Ajax.
Onto pot three
Freiburg have joined Olympiacos and West Ham in Group A - a good draw so far for David Moyes?
Draw as it stands
At the end of the second pot of the draw, here is how it stands:
Group A: West Ham, Olympiacos
Group B: Ajax, Marseille
Group C: Rangers, Real Betis
Group D: Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon
Group E: Liverpool, LASK
Group F: Villareal, Rennes
Group G: Roma, Slavia Prague
Group H: Bayer Leverkusen, Qarabag
Onto pot two
Here is the draw so far:
Group A: West Ham, Olympiacos
Group B: Ajax, Marseille
Group C: Rangers, Real Betis
Group D: Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon
Group E: Liverpool, LASK
West Ham out first
West Ham have been drawn first and are into Group A, Ajax are out second and into Group B.
John O'Shea on stage
Joining former QPR and Sevilla defender Stephane M'Bia on stage for the draw is ex-Ireland and Man United defender John O'Shea, who is acting as an ambassador for the final which will be held in Dublin next May.
Here come the now very recognisable UEFA delegates who will take us through the process of the draw.
Europa League draw pots
A reminder of the pots for the upcoming draw, with three British clubs in Pot 1 and Brighton on Pot 3 for their maiden European campaign:
Pot 1: West Ham United, Liverpool, Roma, Ajax, Villarreal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta, Rangers
Pot 2: Sporting Lisbon, Slavia Prague, Rennes, Olympiacos, Real Betis, LASK, Marseille, Qarabag
Pot 3: Molde, Brighton & Hove Albion, Sheriff Tiraspol, Union St-Gilloise, Freiburg, Sparta Prague, Maccabi Haifa, Sturm Graz
Pot 4: Toulouse, AEK Athens, TSC, Servette, Panathinaikos, Rakow Czestochowa, Aris Limassol, Hacken
Draw format
The Europa League draw is about to get underway, with Alex Scott and Matt Smith presenting coverage from Monaco.
A reminder of how things will play out, the groups will be drawn with one team from each of the four pots - teams from the same country cannot be drawn together.
As ever with UEFA we can expect a lengthy preamble to the actual draw getting underway, but once it has started we will bring you all of the updates.
Who's ready?
We've built the excitement (maybe) and the draw is almost upon us now.
Get the kettle on and get ready to settle in for the big draw.
Admin
The West Ham X (formerly Twitter) admin is getting ready for the draw.
Who do you want to come up against?
Europa League odds
2023/24 Europa League outright winner - Latest odds via BettingSites.co.uk
Liverpool - 7/2
Brighton, Roma - 12/1
Villarreal - 14/1
Atalanta - 16/1
West Ham, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting Lisbon, Real Betis - 20/1
Ajax, Rennes - 25/1
SC Freiburg - 28/1
Rangers, Toulouse - 50/1
Last year
Last year's final was between Roma and Sevilla.
And give Roma are in this year's tournament, you can work out the outcome of that match.
Sevilla won on penalties 4-1 after the tie had ended 1-1 after extra-time.
One hour
Here is your one hour warning. The draw will be taking place in 60 minutes...or at least coverage will.
The final
If West Ham go all the way they will not have to travel far.
This season's final will be played in the Dublin Arena on Wednesday, May 22.
And the final pot four
It's anyone fmo this pot for the Hammers.
Toulouse
Backa Topola
Panathinaikos
Aris Limassol
AEK Athens
Servette
Rakow
Hacken
Pot three
There is one team in pot three West Ham cannot draw - Brighton.
That's because teams from the same association cannot be drawn together.
Here are the other pot three teams:
Molde
Sheriff
Maccabi Haifa
Freiburg
Union Saint Gilloise
Sparta Prague
Sturm Graz
Into pot two
West Ham can draw any of the teams in pot two.
They are:
Sporting CP
Rennes
Real Betis
Marseille
Slavia Prague
Olympiacos
LASK
Qarabag
Pot one teams
As we've already said, West Ham are in pot one by virtue of winning the Europa League.
Also in pot one, and therefore teams the Hammers cannot face are:
Liverpool
Roma
Villarreal
Atalanta
Ajax
Leverkusen Rangers
Need to know
Here's everything you need to know about today's draw.
West Ham are in pot one, given their Conference League win.
When and where?
The draw will take place in Monaco today, at 12pm sharp.
We say sharp, that's when live coverage starts. More likely, after a load of waffle, the draw will actually get under way somewhere closer to 12.30pm.
Welcome
Good morning everyone.
It may be deadline day but there are other things going on, you know? A Europa League draw to be exact, just what West Ham fans want to be dialled into today.
