Sunderland is an English professional football club based in the city of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. The club has competed twice in UEFA competitions in its history – first in the 1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup, and then in the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League. Additionally, the club has also participated in the minor Anglo-Italian Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup and Texaco Cup on a number of occasions. History 1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup Despite being a Second Division side, Sunderland achieved their first qualification for Europe through winning the FA Cup, which gave the club entry into the following season's European Cup Winners' Cup. Although making short work of their Hungarian opponents Vasas in the first round, and beating Portuguese giants Sporting CP in the first leg of the second round, they were unable to maintain their momentum and were knocked out having lost the second leg.
Season Competition Round Opposition Home Attendance Away Attendance Aggregate1973–74European Cup Winners' CupFirst round Vasas1–022,4622–027,1303–0Second round Sporting CP2–131,5680–241,4342–3
2026–27 UEFA Europa League Having spent a number of seasons out of the Premier League, even descending as far as the third tier of English football, Sunderland returned to the top flight via the 2025 EFL play-offs. In their first season back in the Premier League in nine years, the club ultimately finished seventh, which gave them a place in the league phase of the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League. Season Competition Round Opposition Home Attendance Away Attendance Aggregate2026–27UEFA Europa LeagueLeague phase AZ1–045,555 Torreense Lech Poznań Dinamo Zagreb Jagiellonia Białystok Milan Anderlecht Levski Sofia
Overall record in UEFA competitions Correct as of match played 16 September 2026, vs AZ
Record by competition Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD Best performanceEuropean Cup Winners' Cup430153+2Second round (1973–74)UEFA Europa League110010+1League phase (2026–27)
Record by nation Nation Pld W D L GF GA GD Opponents220030+3Vasas110010+1AZ210123−1Sporting CP
Other competitions Season Competition Round Opposition Home Away Aggregate Ref.1970Anglo-Italian CupGroup stage Lazio3–11–25th Fiorentina2–20–31972Anglo-Italian CupGroup stage Atalanta0–02–35th Cagliari3–33–11974–75Texaco CupGroup stage Newcastle United2–13rd Middlesbrough0–1 Carlisle United0–01975–76Anglo-Scottish CupGroup stage Middlesbrough2–33rd Newcastle United2–0 Carlisle United0–11978–79Anglo-Scottish CupGroup Stage Bolton Wanderers2–03rd Oldham Athletic1–2 Sheffield United1–21979–80Anglo-Scottish CupGroup stage Bury2–44th Bolton Wanderers0–2 Oldham Athletic1–21992–93Anglo-Italian CupPreliminary round Cambridge United1–13rd Birmingham City0–11993–94Anglo-Italian CupPreliminary round Tranmere Rovers2–02nd Bolton Wanderers0–2
References