UEFA Europa League & Conference League: Draw Results for the First Qualifying Round
On Tuesday, June 17th, the draw for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League and Conference League took place in Nyon. Greek clubs AEK and Aris, both set to enter at the second qualifying round, will find out their opponents on Wednesday, following the completion of the initial round matchups.
Europa League First Qualifying Round Matchups
The following fixtures were drawn for the opening stage of the Europa League:
- Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) vs. Ilves Tampere (Finland)
- Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) vs. Prishtina (Kosovo)
- Spartak Trnava (Slovakia) vs. Haka (Sweden)
- Sabah (Azerbaijan) vs. Celje (Slovenia)
- Legia Warsaw (Poland) vs. Aktobe (Kazakhstan)
- Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) vs. Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Israel)
- AEK Larnaca (Cyprus) vs. Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
- Paksi (Hungary) vs. CFR Cluj (Romania)
Conference League First Qualifying Round Fixtures
The draw also revealed the pairings for the Conference League’s initial qualifying phase, featuring clubs from across Europe:
- Runavik (Faroe Islands) vs. HJK Helsinki (Finland)
- Torpedo Kutaisi (Georgia) vs. Ordabasy (Kazakhstan)
- Zeljeznicar (Bosnia) vs. Koper (Slovenia)
- Seinäjoki (Finland) vs. Klaksvik (Faroe Islands)
- Nomme Kalju (Estonia) vs. Partizani (Albania)
- Tre Fiori (San Marino) vs. Pyunik (Armenia)
- St Patrick’s Athletic (Ireland) vs. Hegelmann (Lithuania)
- Dečić (Montenegro) vs. Sileks (North Macedonia)
- Sutjeska (Montenegro) vs. Dinamo Brest (Belarus)
- Larne (Northern Ireland) vs. Auda (Latvia)
- Floriana (Malta) vs. Haverfordwest County (Wales)
- Torpedo-BelAZ (Belarus) vs. Rabotnički (North Macedonia)
- Magpies (Gibraltar) vs. Paide Linnameeskond (Estonia)
- Birkirkara (Malta) vs. Petrocub (Moldova)
- Atlètic Club d’Escaldes (Andorra) vs. Dudelange (Luxembourg)
- Valur (Iceland) vs. Flora Tallinn (Estonia)
- Malisheva (Kosovo) vs. Vikingur Reykjavik (Iceland)
- Racing Union (Luxembourg) vs. Dila Gori (Georgia)
- Vllaznia (Albania) vs. Daugavpils (Latvia)
- Urartu (Armenia) vs. Neman Grodno (Belarus)
- La Fiorita (San Marino) vs. Vardar (North Macedonia)
- Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania) vs. Penybont (Wales)
- St Joseph’s (Gibraltar) vs. Cliftonville (Northern Ireland)
- Borac (Bosnia) vs. Santa Coloma (Andorra)
Important Dates and Next Steps
The first qualifying round matches for both competitions are scheduled for July 10th and 17th. Following these fixtures, the winners will advance to face clubs like AEK and Aris in the second qualifying round, where the stakes will be higher as teams vie for a spot in the group stages.
Context and Significance
This season’s qualifying rounds are particularly competitive, with clubs from emerging football nations eager to make their mark on the European stage. For instance, Shakhtar Donetsk, a club with a rich European history, faces a challenging tie against Finland’s Ilves Tampere, a team that has steadily improved in recent years. Similarly, the Conference League offers smaller clubs a valuable platform to gain international experience and exposure, which can be crucial for their development and financial growth.
With UEFA competitions expanding in popularity and commercial value, these early rounds are increasingly important for clubs aiming to boost their profiles and revenues. According to UEFA’s latest reports, the total prize money for the Europa League and Conference League has increased by over 15% compared to last season, underscoring the growing incentives for clubs to progress as far as possible.