This table shows the path of all 174 teams involved in the qualifying phase and play-off round, including the 15 losing teams from the Champions League third qualifying round which joined at the play-off round (marked by CL). 38 teams qualified for the group stage to join the 10 losing teams from the Champions League play-off round.
The draw for the first qualifying round was held on 22 June 2009. Clubs were separated into seeded and unseeded teams based on their club coefficient; teams with a coefficient of at least 1.332 were seeded.[1]
The draw for the second qualifying round was held on 22 June 2009, immediately after the first qualifying round draw. Clubs were separated into seeded and unseeded teams based on their club coefficient. Teams with a coefficient of at least 1.958 were seeded, except Lahti, the lowest ranked of the teams from Finland. As the draw for the second qualifying round took place before the first qualifying round was completed, the teams were seeded assuming the seeded side in the previous round would be victorious.[1]
The first legs were played on 14 and 16 July, and the second legs were played on 23 July 2009.
Both the first and second legs between Bnei Yehuda and Dinaburg and between Rapid Wien and Vllaznia were under investigation by UEFA and German authorities for possible match-fixing.[2]
The draw for the third qualifying round was held on 17 July 2009. Clubs were separated into seeded and unseeded teams based on their club coefficient; teams with a coefficient of at least 7.826 were seeded. As the draw for the third qualifying round took place before the second qualifying round was completed, the teams were seeded assuming the seeded side in the previous round would be victorious. As a result, Karabakh, Petrovac and Slavija were also seeded as they beat teams who would have been seeded.[1]
The draw for the play-off round was held on 7 August 2009. For the draw, clubs were separated into seeded and unseeded teams based on their club coefficient. Teams with a coefficient of at least 12.890 were seeded.[1]
Note 1: The match was abandoned at 0–2 in the 88th minute after one Dinamo București fan entered the playing field and other fans invaded the running track around the pitch. The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body awarded a default 0–3 defeat against Dinamo during an emergency meeting on 25 August.[4] After advancing to the group stage, Dinamo were punished by having their first two home matches in the group stage played behind closed doors.
Note 59: The first of two home games which Steaua București had to play behind closed doors because their fans had flown banners offensive to Újpest in the second qualifying round.[5]
^The MTZ-RIPO v Metalurh Donetsk match was suspended in the 11th minute due to inclement weather and poor drainage on the waterlogged pitch. After 55 minutes the match resumed.[3]
Note: Between the 1999–2000 and 2008–09 seasons, the competition was still known as the UEFA Cup. All seasons are included following the competition's absorption of the Cup Winners' Cup.