Sunderland Learn Europa League Opponents With Stunning Fixtures Ahead

Sunderland have learned their opponents for the upcoming 2026/27 Europa League group stage phase, with some stunning fixtures both home and away upcoming for Regis Le Bris' Black Cats squad. 

Sunderland will play AC Milan away to begin their 2026/27 Europa League group stage, in quite the poetic draw. 

Sunderland’s bitter rivals Newcastle United will be reluctant to recite their ‘have you ever seen a Mackem in Milan?’ chant now with the Black Cats heading for the San Siro this season.

AC Milan finished fifth in the Serie A last season and have made a bright start to life in the 2026/27 Italian top flight with a 2-1 win away at Torino.

Following the trip to Milan, Sunderland will host Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light. 

Last season, AZ Alkmaar finished seventh in the Eredivisie, but they currently sit at the top of the Dutch top flight at the time of the Europa League draw, with three consecutive victories to start the season as the only unbeaten side in the league.

Following the host of Alkmaar, Sunderland will host Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, and then travel to Belgian giants Anderlecht, seeing Black Cats winger Nilson Angulo face his former side.

Afterwards, Sunderland will face Polish outfit Jagiellonia at home, then travel away to Lech Poznan before hosting Levski Sofia and finally travelling to Portugal for the fixture against Portuguese second division side Torrense to conclude the first phase of the Black Cats' 2026/27 Europa League fixtures.