Dinamo Zagreb discovered their eight opponents for the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase following the draw held on August 28.
The Croatian club will welcome German side Bayer Leverkusen, Belgian giants Anderlecht, Austrian champions Sturm Graz and Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen to Zagreb.
Meanwhile, Dinamo's away fixtures will take them to England, France and the Netherlands, where they will face Sunderland, Rennes and AZ Alkmaar. Their European schedule also includes a meeting with Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva, whose home fixture was held in Bucharest.
The draw provides a combination of established European opposition, familiar rivals and several first-time encounters for the Croatian side.
Major European Clubs Heading to Zagreb
One of the most anticipated fixtures will be the home encounter against Bayer Leverkusen, a club that has established itself among Germany's leading football teams. The match, scheduled for November 26 at Maksimir Stadium, will represent an important test of Dinamo's ambitions. Another notable opponent is Anderlecht, one of Belgium's most successful football clubs.
The two teams share a history in European competition, having previously met in the Europa League in 2009 and 2018. In 2018, Dinamo secured an impressive 2–0 victory in Brussels before holding Anderlecht to a goalless draw in Zagreb.
The Croatian side will also renew acquaintances with NEC Nijmegen, whom they defeated 3–2 in Zagreb during the 2008 UEFA Cup campaign. A home meeting with Sturm Graz will complete Dinamo's four fixtures at Maksimir. The clubs previously faced each other in the 1999 Champions League group stage, with Dinamo winning 3–0 in Zagreb before losing 1–0 in Austria.
Challenging Away Trips Across Europe
Dinamo's away schedule presents its own difficulties. A visit to English club Sunderland on November 5 will be particularly interesting, marking the first European encounter between the two teams. The Zagreb side will also travel to France to face Rennes, a club they previously met in the 2007 UEFA Cup, when the match ended in a 1–1 draw.
Another challenging fixture awaits in the Netherlands against AZ Alkmaar, while Dinamo began their campaign against Hapoel Beer Sheva on September 16. That opening match finished 0–0, giving Dinamo their first point of the competition.
Dinamo Zagreb's Full Europa League Schedule
The Croatian champions will play eight matches in the league phase, with the final fixture scheduled for January 28, 2027.
SCHEDULE:
| September 16, 2026 | Hapoel Beer Sheva Dinamo | 21:00 |
| October 15, 2026 | Dinamo vs Anderlecht | 21:00 |
| October 22, 2026 | Dinamo vs NEC Nijmegen | 18:45 |
| November 5, 2026 | Sunderland vs Dinamo | 21:00 |
| November 26, 2026 | Dinamo vs Bayer Leverkusen | 18:45 |
| December 10, 2026 | Rennes vs Dinamo | 18:45 |
| January 21, 2027 | AZ Alkmaar vs Dinamo | 21:00 |
| January 28, 2027 | Dinamo vs Sturm Graz | 21:00 |
All scheduled kick-off times are Central European local time, as published by Dinamo Zagreb.
A New Opportunity to Make European History
Dinamo Zagreb have secured a place in the main stage of a UEFA competition for the 22nd time in the club's history. Of those appearances, 12 have come in the UEFA Cup or Europa League. The current Europa League format features 36 clubs competing in a single league table. Each team faces eight different opponents, playing four matches at home and four away.
The top eight teams advance directly to the Round of 16, while clubs finishing between ninth and 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs. Teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated from the competition.
Can Dinamo Reach the Knockout Stages?
Dinamo's European record shows that the Croatian club are capable of competing against stronger opponents, particularly at Maksimir Stadium, where home support has often played an important role. However, consistency will be crucial throughout the league phase. Matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland could prove particularly demanding, while home fixtures against Anderlecht, NEC Nijmegen and Sturm Graz represent opportunities to collect valuable points.
The opening draw against Hapoel Beer Sheva leaves Dinamo with seven matches to strengthen their position in the standings. The next major challenge comes on October 15, when Anderlecht visit Zagreb for Dinamo's first home game of the league phase.
With a demanding schedule, several high-profile opponents and the prospect of knockout-stage qualification, Dinamo Zagreb's Europa League campaign promises an exciting European football season for supporters in the Croatian capital.
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