West Ham eyes will turn to the impending Europa Conference League draw as possible last 16 opponents will become clearer.
West Ham have secured last 16 European football for the second consecutive season following the win over Silkeborg last week.
The Hammers have a perfect record of five wins from five matches in the Conference League group stages this season.
And it is seven wins from seven including the qualifier against Viborg before that. The Hammers now have a dead rubber clash in Romania against FCSB to conclude the group stage on Thursday night.
As they were in the Europa League last season when David Moyes’s side rampaged to the semi-finals, West Ham are one the favourites to win the Conference League.
That is a very realistic aim given West Ham’s squad and the quality of teams in the competition.
But things could get a little trickier soon.
As group winners West Ham – like they did in the Europa League – advance straight to the last 16, which will be played over two legs in March.
The eight teams finishing second will face a play-off game against a Europa League dropout – teams finishing third in that competition – in February.
Now West Ham eyes turn to the impending Europa Conference League draw as their possible last 16 opponents will become clearer.
UEFA has confirmed the 2022/23 Europa Conference League knockout round play-off draw will take place from 1pm next Monday (7 November) at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
AEK Larnaca of Cyprus are one of the teams definitely in the draw as a Europa League dropout. The other 15 teams – seven more dropouts and the eight second-placed Conference sides – are still to be decided in the final round.
Realistically, though, the dropouts West Ham might end up facing in the last 16 could include Larnaca, Bodo/Glimt or FC Zurich, reigning Conference League champions Roma or Ludogorets, Braga or Union Berlin, Sheriff or Omonoia, Nantes or Qarabag, any one from Monaco, Trabzonspor or Red star and any one from Lazio, Sturm Graz, Feyenoord and Midtjylland.
Along with Larnaca, seven of those sides will play the second-placed sides for the right to take on West Ham and co in the last 16.
The likely potential opponents from the Conference League that West Ham may end up facing in the knockouts include either Fiorentina or Basaksehir, Hapoel Beer Sheva or Lech, one of Nice, Partizan or Koln, Dnipro-1 or AZ Alkmaar, Gent or Molde, one of Cluj, Slavia Prague or Ballkani and any one from Slovan Bratislava, Basel, Pyunik or Zalgiris.
The eight runners-up from the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage will be seeded; the eight third-placed teams from the UEFA Europa League group stage are unseeded.
Clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other. Further restrictions will be announced before the draw.
West Ham will be hoping some of the bigger names may be drawn together in the play-off to further increase their chances of winning a first trophy in 42 years.
Winning the Conference League would also guarantee West Ham European football for a third successive season as they would automatically qualify for the Europa League for the 2023/24 campaign.
Depending on their progress in domestic cups, that could well turn out to be Moyes’ side’s best hopes of European qualification this term amid some very indifferent Premier League form.
West Ham will find out their last 16 opponents when the draw is made on February 24.
Key Europa Conference League dates:
Knockout round play-offs: 16 & 23 February
Round of 16: 9 & 16 March 2023
Quarter-finals: 13 & 20 April 2023
Semi-finals: 11 & 18 May 2023
Final: 7 June 2023
Draw dates:
Round of 16: 24 February
Quarter and semi-finals: 17 March
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