Sunderland drawn against AC Milan in Europa League

Sunderland will travel to the San Siro to face AC Milan in the Europa League, marking the club's return to European competition for the first time since 1973. The draw, conducted on August 28, 2026, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, paired the English side with the seven-time European champions in one of their eight league-phase fixtures.

The tie against Milan is the standout fixture in Sunderland's schedule, which also includes home matches against AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb, Jagiellonia Białystok, and Levski Sofia. Their away trips will take them to Anderlecht, Lech Poznań, and Torreense. The draw ends a 53-year absence from continental football for the Black Cats, whose last campaign was the 1973-74 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Sunderland's qualification stems from a seventh-place finish in the 2025-26 Premier League season, a remarkable achievement following their promotion from the Championship. Manager Régis Le Bris guided the team to key victories, including wins over Chelsea, which secured their European spot. The club's return represents one of English football's notable recent revival stories.

The Europa League now features a single league phase where all 36 teams play eight...