Conference League First Qualifying Round Preview

A brand new season of the UEFA Conference League, the sixth in the competition's existence, gets underway on Tuesday with the first qualifying round. Action will commence in Luxembourg and Albania, before three more matches occur on Wednesday. Thursday will have the last 21 games, before next week will determine who are the first 26 teams to be eliminated in Europe this term.

This round features 52 teams from 26 different countries as they look to complete the arduous task of qualifying for the UECL's league phase. Unlike the Champions League and the Europa League, there are no missteps allowed - come out on the losing end of any tie, and that is it.

Here is a look at the this qualifying round, and what to expect.

Direct Coefficient Clashes Take Centre Stage

Of the 26 ties to occur in this round, seven of them will be direct battles in UEFA's five-year coefficient rankings. The first of such matches will open up Thursday's play, as Atlètic Club d'Escaldes and Mornar Bar square off. L'Atlètic lost their only other outing versus a Montenegrin outfit three years ago, falling to Budućnost Podgorica in the Champions League. As for Mornar Bar, they are in the Conference League for the second time, with their only other appearance seeing them make the third qualifying round in 2024/25.

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There will also be an important all-Baltic affair between Lithuania's Hegelmann Litauen and Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia. The former have never scored in their four other European games, while the latter have successfully negotiated this stage in two of the last three seasons.

Another Estonian club, Nõmme Kalju, also have a direct battle to handle when they face record Northern Irish champions Linfield. The same can be said for current Meistriliiga leaders FCI Levadia Tallinn, who meet Caernarfon Town from Wales. In what is a key summer for several countries at the bottom of the rankings, these could be pivotal ties for all involved.

Žalgiris Vilnius are up against Petrovac, as the Montenegrin outfit had to wait 16 years from their other European journey to make a return. As for Georgian giants Dinamo Tbilisi, they face debutants Mondorf-les-Bains, who enjoyed a highest-ever finish in Luxembourg last term when they claimed third spot.

Tie of the Round: Penybont vs FC Santa Coloma

For the tie of the round, the pick of the bunch is a repeat meeting from three years ago between Penybont and FC Santa Coloma. This is another one of those highly significant games, given both Wales and Andorra are looking to avoid finishing in the bottom five in UEFA's five-year country coefficient ranking.

This is the third time in the last four years that Welsh-based Penybont will be participating in the Conference League. They have never gone farther than this stage, losing to their Andorran opponents in extra time in 2023/24 before suffering the same fate - albeit in normal time - versus Kauno Žalgiris.

No Andorran team have more pedigree on the continental scene than FC Santa Coloma, who benefited from rivals UE Santa Coloma as well as Ranger's failing to receive a UEFA license. Their elimination of Penybont three summers ago saw them reach the third qualifying round, a first for an Andorran team at the time. Colomencs have progressed from this stage in all three of their previous UECL showings.

Established Names Start Arduous Task

In this opening round of Conference League qualifying are several sides who have successfully negotiated the qualifying rounds in recent years. One of those names are Belarusian Cup victors BATE Borisov, who are back in Europe after missing out in each of the last two seasons. Their opening tie is against Albanian team AF Elbasani, which could be a positive thing for BATE. They have won both of their previous two-legged clashes with Albanian opposition. Fellow Belarusian team Dinamo Minsk face Sileks in their tie, the former having featured in the UECL proper in 2024/25.

Another side with plenty of group phase experience are Astana, who are paired with Dinamo City. The side from the Albanian capital made the playoff round last term before losing to Jagiellonia Białystok. As for Ħamrun Spartans, they start their task for a second straight UECL league phase showing against NSÍ Runavík, current league leaders in the Faroe Islands.

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For the fourth year running, Pyunik will feature in the competition at some stage. The Armenian vice-champions, who have progressed at least once in each of their three previous UECL qualifying round appearances, face Marsaxlokk, who lost the Maltese league final to Floriana. The other side from Armenia in this round, Alashkert, will meet a debutant in Yelimay from Kazakhstan.

Among the other former group phase representatives, Shkëndija meet Gibraltar's Europa FC after making the UECL knockout rounds last spring. Europa are looking for their first win in the Conference League, losing five of their six other matches. Ballkani, who have reached the UECL proper twice, look to bounce back from last summer's disappointment against Wales' Connah's Quay. As for Latvian top club RFS, who have also been two-time group phase participants, aim to continue their success over Northern Irish clubs as they meet Glentoran.

Regional Meetings to Add Spice

A regular feature in the opening rounds in qualification include teams from the same region squaring off. An all-Nordic affair will be between Stjarnan and Víkingur Gøta. The Faroese club lost their other tie against an Icelandic opponent, falling to FH nine years ago in Champions League qualifying. Twelve years on from their magical run to the Europa League playoff round, Stjarnan are hoping to shake off their domestic woes to go on a similar journey this summer.

The first-ever tie between a Albanian and a Kosovar team will also take place, with Vllaznia Shkodër and Malisheva playing each other. The latter have never gotten past the first round of the UECL, something they will try to change this summer.

In the Eurasia region, Zirə are up against Torpedo Kutaisi. Like FC Santa Coloma, Zirə qualified for Europe due to another team losing out on their spot. Their best performance came two summers ago when they reached the playoff round. Torpedo also got that far in the Europa League, doing so in 2018/19.

Potential to Create a New Story?

Looking at the other ties in this round, UNA Strassen or La Fiorita will be the first team eliminated from Europe this term. The side from Luxembourg have never scored across their four attempts in Europe. As for La Fiorita, they have prevailed from a European tie just once, coming two years ago.

FK Sarajevo have Inter Turku, with the pair combining for just one successful tie in the Conference League so far. As for St. Joseph's, they get a third crack against Irish opposition in as many seasons, taking on Bohemians. The League of Ireland outfit got to the third qualifying round in the inaugural UECL season back in 2021/22.

It will be a tough task for Differdange 03 to make it back to the playoff round, where they were last summer. In their way to start the journey are Finland's Ilves, who have never lost at home in the competition. Virtus also have a long road ahead to get to the last part of qualification, with their opponent in this round being Dila Gori of Georgia. Liepāja, who have never gotten past the second qualifying round, face Dečić in their tie.

Velež Mostar are hoping to avoid falling in UECL Q1 for the third appearance on the spin, but will have a tricky tie against Moldova's Milsami Orhei. Vulturii roșii took out FK Sarajevo in their first-ever Conference League tie.