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League: Europa LeagueSport: SoccerCountry: GlobalCategory: Analysis

Sunderland hosts AZ Alkmaar in Europa League opening match on Wednesday

BBC Football • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 15, 2026, 9:21 AM

Last updated Sep 15, 2026

Sunderland hosts AZ Alkmaar in Europa League opening match on Wednesday
Summary

Sunderland hosts AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday, September 15, 2026, in a Europa League group match. This contest marks Sunderland's first European appearance since November 1973. A total of nine matches are scheduled for today as part of the league phase, which begins a day earlier than usual. Other notable teams playing today include AC Milan, Benfica, and Lyon, with the remaining nine fixtures set for Thursday.

Source Links
BBC Football
Key Details
  • •Sunderland faces AZ Alkmaar at 20:00 BST.
  • •Nine of 18 Europa League matches occur today.
  • •AC Milan, Benfica, and Lyon also participate.
  • •Matches were rescheduled to accommodate fixture clashes.
  • •This format began in the 2024-25 season.
Latest Updates
  • 9:21 AMBBC Football — Why are there Europa League matches on Wednesday?
What they're saying
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BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team explains why there are nine Europa League matches taking place on Wednesday night

Related Teams & Leagues
Europa LeagueSoccer

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