UEFA Europa League PREVIEW 16 Sep 2026: Sunderland end a 53-year wait for Europe as two Europa League clubs sack their managers days before kickoff

Sunderland host AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light in the first official meeting between the two clubs, and the fixture ends a 53-year wait for European football at the club: their only previous continental campaign was the 1973-74 European Cup Winners' Cup, which ended against Sporting Lisbon after victory over Vasas Budapest. Sunderland arrive off a 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal and will be without Habib Diarra, expected to be out six to eight weeks with a hamstring injury, and Romaine Mundle, who has had meniscus surgery on a new knee problem.