When is the Europa Conference League draw?

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So when is the Europa League draw taking place, with Aston Villa set to return to Europe with the all-conquering Unai Emery?

When is the Europa Conference League draw? Aston Villa manager Unai Emery while at Valencia directs his players during the La Liga match between Villarreal and Valencia at Estadio El Madrigal on January 8, 2012 in Villarreal, Spain.
(Image credit: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)

So… when is the Europa Conference League draw? Aston Villa are just about ready to get going with their next European adventure.

And this one could be a big one. In manager Unai Emery, the Villans have got a serial winner of European trophies and could be one of the favourites for the competition this time around. It's not beyond the realms of possibility, watching the way that West Ham United swept the tournament last season.

Aston Villa fans are hoping for claret-and-blue ribbons in consecutive seasons with this one. 

Vladimir Smicer draws Nice in the Europa Conference League quarter-final draw

Vladimir Smicer draws Nice in the Europa Conference League last season (Image credit: Getty Images)

When is the Europa Conference League draw?

The Europa League group draw for 2023/24 takes place on September 1 at 1pm UK time – an hour after the Europa League draw. It'll be streamed live from Grimaldi Forum, Monaco.

There, it'll likely be regular presenter Pedro Pinto alongside Deputy General Secretary of UEFA, Giorgio Marchetti, choosing the teams for this autumn's group stage draw alongside a very special guest. 

VIDEO: How The New Champions League Format Actually Works

As is tradition, one team from each pot will be drawn into eight groups. The first games will be played on September 21 with the final for this year being held at the Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens.

Usually, the Champions League draw, Europa League draw and Europa Conference League draw are made at the same time. This is not the case for 2023/24, with the Champions League draw taking place a day earlier.

A view of the draw balls ahead of the UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23 Knock-out Round Play-offs draw at the UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on November 7, 2022, in Nyon, Switzerland.

A view of the balls ahead of the Europa Conference League draw last season (Image credit: Kristian Skeie UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))

2023/24 is the last edition of the tournament to feature 32 teams, with the format to be expanded for the following season. Next year, 36 clubs will qualify for the competition, with a "Swiss-style" group stage taking place.

The Premier League looks likely to be given a fifth UCL place by UEFA. 

More Champions League and Europa League stories

Saudi Arabia are said to be in talks with UEFA over a "wildcard" spot for the Saudi Pro League in the Champions League.

With two big returnees to Europe's top table this season, TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods says she would be "dying inside" if Arsenal made the Champions League final at Wembley, while Steve Howey has identified Newcastle's biggest factor ahead of playing in the competition for the first time in two decades. 

Meanwhile, former Liverpool and Arsenal star Jermaine Pennant has opened up on how it feels to be the only Champions League finalist from England not to be capped by the Three Lions.

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.