Lillestrøm SK's Europa League fixtures for the autumn of 2026 have been officially confirmed after UEFA published the schedule on Saturday evening. This marks the club's first participation in a European cup in over 25 years, since they featured in the UEFA Cup in the 2000/01 season.
The campaign begins at Åråsen stadion against Portuguese side SCU Torreense on 17 September. A challenging away trip to Sparta Praha follows on 15 October, before Spanish outfit Real Sociedad visit on 22 October. November features away games at Viktoria Plzen (5 November) and Lyon (26 November). The autumn group stage concludes with a home match against Levski Sofia on 10 December. The two final fixtures in January are at home to Bournemouth (21 January) and away to Celta (28 January).
How does the tournament format work?
The competition features a new format where all 36 teams compete in one large league. Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents. The top eight teams after these rounds advance directly to the round of 16. Teams finishing in places 9 to 24 must enter an additional qualifying play-off round to reach the same stage.
The remaining twelve teams, placed 25th to 36th, do not get any further European football after the January matches. This makes every single point earned in the autumn fixtures vital for Lillestrøm SK's chances of reaching the spring phase. You can track the team's path on our own fixtures page.
What does this mean for Lillestrøm SK?
After a long period without European football, this is a major milestone for the club. Participation secures financial revenue and provides players with valuable experience at a higher level. It also places new demands on the squad's quality and depth, with a congested schedule across the Eliteserien and Europe.
The team has a solid core of experienced players, but manager Lars Bohinen will likely need to rotate to keep everyone fresh. See how the squad is shaping up on our player roster. Competition for places will be fierce, and young talents may get their chance to shine.
How does it compare to Brann's schedule?
The same report from Nettavisen also details SK Brann's Conference League fixture list. Their group stage consists of six rounds and concludes before Christmas. Brann have useful experience from last season's Europa League, where they reached the first knockout phase.
This shows Norwegian club football is in a strong position in Europe, with two teams representing the Eliteserien on the continental stage this autumn. It will be exciting to follow the progress of both sides in parallel.
What are the biggest challenges?
The travel burden and the quality of the opponents will be the biggest tests. The schedule includes long away trips to Prague, Plzen, Lyon, and Vigo, as well as home games against established clubs like Real Sociedad and Bournemouth. It requires excellent physical preparation and tactical flexibility.
The team's performances in the opening fixtures will set the tone. A strong start against Torreense and in the matches against other mid-table sides is essential to avoid the lower reaches of the standings. Every point collected also helps to improve Norway's coefficient in the UEFA rankings, which is important for future seasons. Check the Eliteserien's progress on the league table page.
Now the task for Lillestrøm SK is to prepare optimally for the historic Europa League season that awaits. The first test is at home in mid-September.
