Quick Read
- Sparta Prague was drawn against AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Conference League Round of 16.
- The draw took place on February 27, 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland.
- Sparta Prague entered the Round of 16 as a seeded team.
- AZ Alkmaar qualified through the knockout play-off round.
NYON (Azat TV) – Czech powerhouse Sparta Prague has been drawn against Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Conference League Round of 16. The highly anticipated draw took place on Friday, February 27, 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland, setting the stage for the next phase of Europe’s third-tier club competition.
Sparta Prague, who entered the Round of 16 as a seeded team after topping their group in the league phase, will now prepare to face AZ Alkmaar, a formidable opponent from the Netherlands. The matchup was confirmed during the live broadcast of the draw, which also determined pairings for the Champions League and Europa League, as reported by OneFootball.
Sparta Prague’s Conference League Challenge
The draw saw Sparta Prague, representing the Czech Republic, paired with AZ Alkmaar, a club with a strong European pedigree. Sparta Prague was among the eight seeded teams, which included other notable clubs such as Strasbourg, Raków, AEK Athens, Rayo Vallecano, Shakhtar Donetsk, Mainz, and AEK Larnaca. These seeded teams qualified directly for the Round of 16 by finishing at the top of their respective groups in the league phase.
AZ Alkmaar, on the other hand, qualified through the knockout play-off round, demonstrating their ability to navigate challenging European fixtures. The specific dates for the home and away legs of the Round of 16 clashes are yet to be finalized, but both clubs will now begin intense preparations for what promises to be a captivating encounter.
The Road Ahead for AZ Alkmaar and Sparta Prague
For Sparta Prague, this draw represents a significant step in their European campaign, offering an opportunity to advance further in the UEFA Conference League. The club will be keen to leverage its seeded status and strong performances from the group stage as they face a well-organized AZ Alkmaar side. The Dutch team’s progression through the play-offs indicates their current form and determination.
The UEFA Conference League continues to provide a vital platform for clubs across Europe to compete for continental honors, and the Round of 16 promises to deliver thrilling matches as teams vie for a spot in the quarter-finals. Fans of both Sparta Prague and AZ Alkmaar will be eagerly awaiting the detailed fixture schedule to support their respective teams.
This pairing sets up one of the more intriguing matchups in the UEFA Conference League Round of 16, testing Sparta Prague’s continental ambitions against a resilient AZ Alkmaar squad in a direct clash of European football philosophies.