Who Manchester United can play in Europa League last 16: Four opponents confirmed ahead of knockout draw
Man Utd face FCSB in their final Europa League group stage match on Thursday night.
Manchester United have qualified for the last 16 of the Europa League after their 2-0 victory over FCSB on Thursday night.
Ruben Amorim’s side secured a third-place finish in the league stage of the competition thanks to goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo to secure a thoroughly deserved three points and keep their unbeaten record alive. It means United are one of eight teams straight through to the knockout stages of the revamped tournament and they will avoid an unwanted two-legged play-off round next month.
United could face four sides in the next round of the competition and that will be narrowed down to two sides when the play-off round draw is made later this week.
Manchester United potential opponents and draw details
United’s third-place finish means they will face one of the teams who finished in 13th, 14th 19th and 20th. It means they will take on one of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland.
The potential opponents will be narrowed down to just two teams when the Europa League play-off draw is made tomorrow. United will discover their next opponents when the Europa League knockout phase play-off draw takes place from 12pm GMT on Friday 31 January. Those who finish between ninth and 24th will go straight into the play-offs, and compete in a two-legged round to secure their path to the last 16. The teams that finish the league phase between ninth and 16th will be seeded and will face a team placed 17th to 24th.
The play-off first leg matches are scheduled to take place on Thursday 13 February 2025 with the second legs a week later on Thursday 20 February 2025. There are no restrictions in the knockout stages of the Europa League, so clubs can face sides from the same national association as well as those they already faced in the league stage.