A Guide To The UEFA Europa League Group Stage Draw

The Foxes' bid for European glory begins on Friday with the draw for the group stage of the competition set to take place in Istanbul, Turkey. Should City reach that far, the final will take place at FC Sevilla's Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on 18 May, 2022.

Ahead of the official confirmation of the group stage, here's everything you need to know...

When does the draw happen?

Former Sevilla goalkeeper Andrés Palop and ex-Spain international Marcos Senna will conduct the draw after midday on Friday 27 August. 

Who could Leicester face?

All UEL sides will be split into four pots, based on their UEFA club coefficients. The pots will be announced before the draw, after the completion of the UEFA Europa League play-offs. Leicester City's coefficient is 32.000. For a full list of coefficients and for more on how this influences the draw, click HERE.

One team from each of the four pots will be drawn into the eight groups (A-H), but no side can play a club from their own association, meaning the Foxes will be kept separate from West Ham United during the group stage.

When will the games take place?

Official fixture dates and times will be confirmed and announced on Friday afternoon. Games, though, are set to occur on the following dates:

Matchday 1: 16 September, 2021
Matchday 2: 30 September, 2021
Matchday 3: 21 October, 2021
Matchday 4: 4 November, 2021
Matchday 5: 25 November, 2021
Matchday 6: 9 December, 2021

Teams in each group will come up against one another home and away, with the same sides meeting on matchdays one and five, or matchdays two and six, or matchdays three and four.

What's new?

Unlike last season, group winners will progress straight to the Round of 16 stage. In another change, runners-up now go into the knockout round play-offs, where they will tackle the third-placed UEFA Champions League teams for places in the Round of 16.

Third-placed sides, on the other hand, will enter the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs.

Can I get tickets?

Following an initial window for Season Ticket Holders to secure their usual seats for the Foxes’ three home group stage fixtures, Fox Members can now purchase their three-game package. For more information, please click HERE.