Champions League first-round qualifiers: Floriana v Shamrock Rovers
Europa League first-round qualifiers: PFC CSKA Sofia v Derry City
Conference League first-round qualifiers: Bohemian FC v St Joseph’s FC
Gavin Cooney has a wrap of all the news from this afternoon’s three draws.
“Shamrock Rovers have been paired with Maltese champions Floriana in the first qualifying round of the 2026-27 Champions League,” Gavin writes.
“The draws for the preliminary rounds of Uefa’s men’s competitions were conducted in Switzerland, and will see Rovers play the first leg away from home on July 7th or 8th. The return leg will be at Tallaght Stadium on July 14th or 15th.
“The specific dates and kick-off times are yet to be finalised by Uefa, while the prospect of live Irish TV coverage of the tie has yet to be confirmed.”
Read the story in full below:
That’s all from me for today, thanks for following along.
And that’s a wrap! That Conference League draw was very quick-fire.
Okay, so the TLDR version of this draw is that Bohemians will be at home to Gibraltar side St Joseph’s FC in the first leg on July 9th and then be away for the second leg on July 16th.
Here are all the ties broke across the various groups for the sake of completion:
Group 1
FK Velež (BIH) v FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)
PFC Zire (AZE) v FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO)
AF Elbasani (ALB) v FC BATE Borisov (BLR)
OFK Petrovac (MNE) v FK Žalgiris (LTU)
FC Alashkert (ARM) v FC Elimai Semei
Group 2
Bohemian FC (IRL) v St Joseph’s FC (GIB)
FC Differdange 03 (LUX) v Ilves Tampere (FIN)
Glentoran FC (NI) v FC RFS (LVA)
Caernarfon Town FC (WAL) v FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST)
Víkingur (FRO) v Stjarnan (ISL)
Group 3
FC Dinamo City (ALB) v FC Astana (KAZ)
FC Dinamo-Minsk (BLR) v FC Sileks (MKD)
FK Mornar (MNE) v Atlètic Club d’Escaldes (AND)
Marsaxlokk FC (MLT) v FC Pyunik (ARM)
FC Dila Gori (GEO) v Virtus AC 1964 (SMR)
Group 4
Connah’s Quay Nomads FC (WAL) v FC Ballkani (KOS)
FK Dečić (MNE) v FK Liepāja (LVA)
US Mondorf-les-Bains (LUX) v FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
FC Hegelmann (LTU) v Paide Linnameeskond (EST)
FK Sarajevo (BIH) v FC Inter Turku (FIN)
Group 5
Europa FC (GIB) v KF Shkëndija (MKD)
Nõmme Kalju FC (EST) v Linfield FC (NI)
Penybont FC (WAL) v FC Santa Coloma (AND)
NSÍ Runavík (FRO) v Hamrun Spartans FC (MLT)
FC UNA Strassen (LUX) v La Fiorita 1967 (SMR)
KF Vllaznia (ALB) v FC Malisheva (KOS)
Now the draw for the 12-team Group 5.
First out is 7, which represents Europa FC, and they’ll play KF Shkëndija.
The remaining Group 5 ties are:
Nõmme Kalju FC v Linfield FC
Penybont FC v FC Santa Coloma
NSÍ Runavík v Hamrun Spartans FC
FC UNA Strassen v La Fiorita 1967
KF Vllaznia v FC Malisheva
Pairing 2: 3 v 6
Pairing 3: 9 v 5
Pairing 4: 10 v 2
Pairing 5: 4 v 8
The first pairing out is 7 v 1.
So that’s means Bohemians will play St Joseph’s FC of Gibraltar.
We’ll clear up the other ties across Groups 1-4 once all the pairings have been made since this is being done at speed.
Punctual once again.
Uefa’s head of club competitions management Tom Barlow is back for one final hurrah. This time he’s joined by Uefa’s calendar and regulations manager Branco de Kock.
Branco begins by chatting us through the draw procedure. Another explainer video for us to watch.
Slightly different format here, which will speed things along. In each group of 10 (Groups 1-4) the teams have been assigned a number. The balls to be drawn will contain a number, rather than a team name. Those number pairings will apply across each of the four groups. (It’ll be clear when we get going.)
The 52 teams have been divided into five groups. Four of those groups each have 10 teams (five seeded, five unseeded), and Group 5 has 12 teams (six seeded, six unseeded).
Bohemians are an unseeded side in Group 2, so they know their first-round opponents will be one of the group’s five seeded clubs: St Joseph’s FC (GIB), FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST), FC Differdange 03 (LUX), Víkingur (FRO), FC RFS (LVA).
There’s one draw left this afternoon, so we’re nearly there.
Up at 5pm is the draw for the Conference League first round qualifiers which will tell Bohemians their opponents.
There’s a whopping 52 teams involved in this draw; 26 seeded and 26 unseeded.
As with the other two leagues, the first round will be played over two legs on a home and away basis. The first legs fixtures will be played on July 9th, followed by the second legs on July 16th.
So Tiernan Lynch’s Derry City will also be away for their first-leg fixture, travelling to play Bulgarian side PFC CSKA Sofia on July 9th before the return leg on July 16th.
And we’re off.
First out is Dynamo Kyiv (UKR), who will be at home in the first leg, and they draw FC Universitatea Cluj (ROU).
The remainder of the pairings are:
Qarabağ FK (AZE) v Vestri (ISL)
Hajduk Split (CRO) v MŠK Žilina (SVK)
PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL) v Derry City (IRE)
FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) v NK Aluminij (SVN)
FK Vojvodina (SRB) v Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)
Right on time once again, the Europa League draw is ready to get going now.
Uefa’s head of club competitions and calendar Tobias Hedtstück is back to take us through it.
Another short video to explain the draw procedure. It’s equally as confusing as the Champions League draw video.
As Derry City already know they are to face a seeded side, that narrows their potential opponents down to: Ferencvárosi TC (HUN), Qarabağ FK (AZE), FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA), FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR), HNK Hajduk Split (CRO), and PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL).
Turning our attention to the Conference League draw, which is of concern to Derry City.
The draw starts at 4pm, and will feature 12 teams (six seeded and six unseeded) for the first round qualifiers.
The seeded teams are: Ferencvárosi TC (HUN), Qarabağ FK (AZE), FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA), FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR), HNK Hajduk Split (CRO), and PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL).
And the six unseeded teams are: Derry City (IRE), MŠK Žilina (SVK), FK Vojvodina (SRB), FC Universitatea Cluj (ROU), NK Aluminij (SVN), and Vestri (ISL).
The seeded teams will each be drawn against an unseeded teams, and will play a two-leg first-round qualifier. The first legs will be played on July 9th, followed by the second legs on July 16th.
The draw means Shamrock Rovers will be on the road for the opening Champions League qualifier against Maltese side Floriana FC on July 7th/8th, and then will be on hosting duties for the return leg on July 14th/15th.
Thankfully we’ve time for a breather now until we do it all again for the Conference League draw at 4pm.
For clarity, here’s the 14 pairings for the Champions League first round qualifiers (first-leg home team listed first):
Sabah FC (AZE) v New Saints FC (WAL)
Floriana FC (MLT) v Shamrock Rovers (IRE)
Flora Tallinn (EST) v Iberia Tbilisi (GEO)
Lincoln Red Imps (GIB) v Inter Escaldes (AND)
Tre Fiori (SMR) v Larne FC (NI)
Ararat-Armenia (ARM) v Riga FC (LVA)
FC Vardar (MKD) v KuPS Kuopio (FIN)
Kauno Zalgiris (LTU) v Drita (KOS)
Vitebsk (BLR) v Universitatea Craiova (ROU)
Petrocub (MDA) v Egnatia (ALB)
Borac (BIH) v Levski Sofia (BUL)
Vikingur Reykjavík (ISL) v ETO FC Győr (HUN)
Kairat Almaty (KAZ) v FK Sutjeska-Niksic (MNE)
KÍ Klaksvík (FRO) v FC Atert Bissen (LUX)
Another short draw now for technical purposes. Basically, the teams who lose their first-round qualifier in the Champions League drop down to Conference League.
In order to rebalance the numbers so there’s the correct number of pairings in the second round of that competition, two teams who drop down from the Champions League will get a bye into the Conference League third round qualifiers.
So, from our 14 Champions League first-round qualifier pairings, two are drawn from the pot:
Pairing 4 (Lincoln Red Imps v Inter Escaldes)
Pairing 5 (Tre Fiori v Larne)
The losing club of those ties will therefore drop to the third round of the Conference League qualifiers, instead of the second round.
Confused? Me too.
We’ll go back and take a better look at the Group 1 draws in a little bit, but for now it’s straight on to the Group 2 draw.
First out, so with home advantage for the first leg, are Kauno Zalgiris, and they’ll face Drita.
The rest of the pairings are:
Vitebsk v Universitatea Craiova
Petrocub v Egnatia
Boraz v Levski Sofia
Vikingur Reykjavík v ETO FC Győr
Kairat Almaty v Sutjeska
KÍ Klaksvík v FC Atert Bissen
First team out, and to play their first fixture at home, is Sabah FC (Azerbaijan), and they’ll play New Saints FC (Wales).
Next out is Floriana FC (Malta), and they draw Shamrock Rovers.
The remaining pairings are:
Flora Tallinn v Iberia Tbilisi
Lincoln Red Imps v Inter Escaldes
Tre Fiori v Larne
Ararat-Armenia v Riga FC
FC Vardar v KuPS Kuopio
Turns out the ins and outs of the draw are quite technical so they’ve made a little video.
Now we’ve got that out of the way, time for the draw for Group 1 – Shamrock Rover’s group.
Very on time. The draw is ready to get started now.
Uefa’s head of club competitions and calendar Tobias Hedtstück welcomes us along.
And now Uefa’s head of club competitions management Tom Barlow will first chat us through the technicalities of the draw.
The Champions League first-round qualifiers will be played over two legs on a home and away basis. The first legs will be staged on July 7th/8th, followed by the return legs on July 14th/15th.
The fixture dates and kick-off times will be announced following today’s draw.
Looking at the Champions League first, 28 teams are in today’s draw; 14 seeded, 14 unseeded.
The teams have already been divided into two groups, each containing seven seeded teams and seven unseeded teams.
Shamrock Rovers are among the seeded teams in Group 1. The other teams in their group are (six seeded, followed by unseeded): Larne FC (NIR), KuPS Kuopio (FIN), Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB), Riga FC (LVA), FC Flora Tallinn (EST), The New Saints FC (WAL), Inter Club d’Escaldes (AND), FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM), Sabah FC (AZE), FC Iberia 1999, Tbilisi (GEO), Floriana FC (MLT), SS Tre Fiori FC (SMR) and FC Vardar (MKD).
In Group 2 are (seven seeded, followed by unseeded): FC Drita (KOS), FK Borac (BIH), Víkingur Reykjavík (ISL), FC Kairat Almaty (KAZ), Universitatea Craiova (ROU), KÍ Klaksvík (FRO), FC Petrocub (MDA), PFC Levski Sofia (BUL), FK Kauno Žalgiris (LTU), ETO FC Győr (HUN), KF Egnatia (ALB), ML Vitebsk (BLR), FC Atert Bissen (LUX).
Shamrock Rovers already know they will face an unseeded club from Group 1, so that narrows it down to: FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM), Sabah FC (AZE), FC Iberia 1999, Tbilisi (GEO), Floriana FC (MLT), SS Tre Fiori FC (SMR) and FC Vardar (MKD).
Hello and welcome along to The Irish Times blog for the Uefa first round qualifier draws.
Three League of Ireland clubs will learn their opponents for the opening round of European action across the Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues this afternoon.
Shamrock Rovers are in the Champions League qualifiers, the draw for which is due to start at 3pm. Following that, Derry City will learn who they’ll be up against in the first round qualifiers for the Europa League from 4pm, and then from 5pm, Bohemians will be in the Conference League pot.
Shelbourne will able be in the Conference League qualifiers but have a bye in the first round so won’t learn their opponents for the second round until tomorrow.
We’ll be running through the potential opponents of the League of Ireland clubs ahead of the three draws, and how those draws ultimately pan out.
