Sunderland were in League One as recently as the 2021-22 season. On Wednesday they open a UEFA Europa League campaign at home to the reigning Dutch cup-holder. Kick-off at the Stadium of Light is 8pm local time.

The venue itself is part of the story. Opened in 1997, the Stadium of Light has never staged a European fixture. The last time Sunderland played a European match at home was in the 1973-74 Cup Winners’ Cup, when the club, then a Second Division side coming off a shock FA Cup win, reached the second round before losing to Sporting Lisbon after beating Vasas Budapest.

From a play-off scramble to seventh in the Premier League

The route back to Europe was decided last May. Sunderland finished seventh on 54 points in the 2025-26 Premier League, becoming only the fifth promoted club to reach continental football through their league position in a first season back in the top flight.

The return to the Premier League had come at Wembley in May 2025. Substitute Tom Watson struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final, ending an eight-year absence from England’s top division.

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Head coach Régis Le Bris was rewarded for the seventh-place finish with a new long-term contract that runs until the summer of 2028. His side arrive on the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

AZ arrive with a new coach and a cup in the cabinet

The visitors bring a very different sort of momentum. AZ Alkmaar are managed by Leeroy Echteld, who took interim charge in January 2026 after Maarten Martens was dismissed, then led the club to a 5-1 KNVB Cup final win over NEC Nijmegen. AZ handed him a two-year contract in May.

“Winning the cup was an absolute highlight. The players have written themselves into the history books,” Echteld said after the extension was announced.

Echteld’s side sit second in the Eredivisie on goal difference behind PSV Eindhoven, having taken 16 points from a possible 18 so far, and travelled to England after a 1-1 home draw with Willem II last Friday. Captain Jordy Clasie opened the scoring in that game.

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Diarra and Mundle out for Sunderland

Sunderland will be without midfielder Habib Diarra (thigh) and winger Romaine Mundle (knee). AZ are missing Kees Smit and Denso Kasius, both with groin problems, alongside Stijn Resink and goalkeeper Hobie Verhulst.

Sunderland’s league phase continues on the road later in the autumn, with a trip to AC Milan among the fixtures already drawn.

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