Jonathan Zavaleta
Contact Jonathan Zavaleta by Email View all posts by Jonathan Zavaleta May 20, 2026
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers (top) and John McGinn during the team's match against Liverpool (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
Between the FA Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and, of course, the World Cup, it’s a busy time to be a soccer fan. The stakes are also high for the Europa League final, which will see Premier League side Aston Villa face Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.
At a Glance: How to Watch the Europa League Final
- Date, Time: Wed., May 20 at 3:00 p.m. ET
- Streaming: Paramount+, Vix (Spanish)
It’s a major opportunity for both teams; Aston Villa last won the European Cup in 1982, while Freiburg has never won a major European trophy. In addition to the silverware, a win would send Freiburg to the Champions League. Aston Villa already secured their place in Europe’s top club competition with a decisive 4-2 win over Liverpool in the Premier League.
Europa League Final Schedule, Streaming
The Europa League final between Aston Villa and Freiburg will take place at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul on Wed., May 20. For fans in the U.S., the game starts at 3:00 p.m. ET, 12:00 p.m. PT. The final is streaming in the U.S. on Paramount+, which is available starting at $8.99/mo.
get paramount+Paramount+ does not currently offer a free trial, but there are workarounds, including trials to Walmart+ and DirecTV. Spanish-language coverage of the game is available on Vix.
What is the UEFA Europa League?
UEFA organizes teams from across Europe, with the Champions League being the highest tier of European club soccer. The UEFA Europa League, held continuously since 1971, is one tier below the Champions League and one above the Conference League. Teams that win the Europa League automatically qualify for the Champions League.
The format of the Europa League has changed numerous times since 1971. UEFA no longer uses a group stage format. Instead, the tournament opens with a league phase; each team is organized into one large table, and faces eight other opponents at the start of the tournament, rather than three.
Qualification for the Europa League varies by country. For the English Premier League, the fifth-placed team qualifies for the league phase of the Europa League, as does the winner of the FA Cup. As for the Bundesliga, the team in fifth and the team that wins the DFB Cup qualify for the Europa League’s league phase.
