West Ham are facing a logistical headache after qualifying for next season's UEFA Europa League.

The Hammers' place in Europe was confirmed on Saturday following Manchester United's 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Crystal Palace.

West Ham, who will play their football at the 60,000-seater Olympic Stadium next season, will enter the competition in the third qualifying round, with the first leg scheduled to take place on July 28 and the second leg a week later on August 4.

The timing of the first leg poses a slight issue for West Ham as the Olympic Stadium will be used for the London Anniversary Games on the weekend of July 22.  

It usually takes seven days to convert the stadium from athletics mode to football mode and this may cause an issue for West Ham if they are drawn to play the first leg at home.

If West Ham are indeed drawn to play the first leg at home, Sky Sports News HQ understand that the club are likely to ask for the location of the legs to be switched.

But if they avoid being drawn at home in the first leg, the return match a week later will be played at the Olympic Stadium and will be West Ham's first game at their new home.

The club, however, will continue to mark the official opening of the Olympic Stadium with a marquee friendly against Serie A champions Juventus on August 7.

 

Source : skysports.com

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