Although the draw for the 2022/23 Europa League group stage will not be taking place in another three months, Arsenal has already discovered which pot they will be in when it is made.
Following AS Roma’s 1-0 win against Feyenoord in the first-ever Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night, there is only one more UEFA club championship match left this season: the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid on Saturday night.
But, because both teams will be back in UEFA’s top tier tournament next season, the Europa League group stage draw will be a lot clearer for Arsenal, Manchester United, Roma, and the other 29 teams who will find out their fate on August 26.
As of right now, 12 teams have qualified for the group stage. Real Betis and Real Sociedad represent Spain, Lazio represents Italy, Union Berlin and Freiburg represent Germany, Nantes and Rennes represent France, Braga represents Portugal, and Feyenoord represents the Netherlands.
They’ll be joined in the group stage by 20 other teams, some of which may have to compete in two qualifying rounds to secure their spot. The teams will then be drawn against one team from each of the remaining eight pots. Arsenal, for example, will avoid Man United in the group stage since clubs cannot be drawn against rivals from the same association.
Meanwhile, according to ESPN’s Dale Johnson on Twitter, Arsenal will not be paired with Roma, Lazio, or Braga since they, along with Man United, have been confirmed to be in Pot 1 for the 2022/23 Europa League group stage draw, which will take place later this year.
POT 1
AS Roma
Manchester United
Arsenal
Lazio
Braga
Meanwhile, Benfica, Rangers, and Dinamo Zagreb have all been confirmed as Pot 1 teams if they qualify for the Europa League by losing their respective Champions League qualifiers.
Due to the World Cup being held in the winter rather than the summer, matchday one of the group stage will take place on September 8, 2022, and the final matchday will be on November 3, 2022, according to UEFA’s official website, which means the Europa League group stage will be completed in eight weeks rather than the usual 12.
