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.

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.

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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
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Where to watch the Europa League

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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

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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.

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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

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Liverpool draw Union SG

Belgian side Union SG have joined Liverpool and LASK in Group E.

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Brighton get a tough draw

Brighton have been drawn into Group B alongside former European champions Marseille and Ajax.

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Onto pot three

Freiburg have joined Olympiacos and West Ham in Group A - a good draw so far for David Moyes?

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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

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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

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West Ham out first

West Ham have been drawn first and are into Group A, Ajax are out second and into Group B.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
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Admin

The West Ham X (formerly Twitter) admin is getting ready for the draw.

Who do you want to come up against?

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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

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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.

Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. (Image: Matteo Ciambelli)
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One hour

Here is your one hour warning. The draw will be taking place in 60 minutes...or at least coverage will.

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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.

David Moyes has sent a clear warning to Chelsea (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Wolves are interested in Aaron Cresswell, pictured lifting the Europa Conference League trophy with West Ham (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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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.

(Image: Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images.)
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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.

(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
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