By Match Zone Desk
The race to reach the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League main stage is officially in full swing. Operating as UEFA’s tertiary European club competition, the tournament’s qualification process kicked off on July 7 and will run through the play-off second legs on August 27.
Unlike the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, the Conference League features a unique, highly competitive structural reality: all 36 teams must earn their place in the league phase via qualification. No club receives an automatic, direct berth into the main tournament.
Here is the definitive, comprehensive guide from Match Zone detailing how the qualification process works, full schedules, first-round results, second-round fixtures, and prospective third-round matchups.
Tournament Format & How Conference League Qualification Works
The entry stage for every participating club is determined by their national association’s club coefficient ranking, with all ties played over traditional two-legged home-and-away ties.
Broad European Access & Safety Nets
UEFA’s overarching club competition framework is intentionally engineered to guarantee that clubs from a minimum of 37 distinct national member associations reach the league phase across the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League.
To achieve this distribution, losing sides in the higher European tiers drop down into the lower competitions:
- Clubs eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and Europa League drop into the Europa League or Conference League qualification pathways.
- Teams defeated in the Europa League play-off round earn direct entry into the UEFA Conference League league phase, while those eliminated in earlier Europa League rounds enter the Conference League qualifying paths.
- Zero Safety Net in Conference League: Teams defeated in the UEFA Conference League qualifying rounds or play-offs are eliminated from European competition entirely for the season.
Official 2026/27 Conference League Qualifying Calendar
- First Qualifying Round: July 7–9 (First Legs) & July 14–16, 2026 (Second Legs)
- Second Qualifying Round: July 21–23 (First Legs) & July 28–30, 2026 (Second Legs)
- Play-Off Round Draw: Monday, August 3, 2026
- Third Qualifying Round: August 6 (First Legs) & August 13, 2026 (Second Legs)
- Play-Off Round: August 20 (First Legs) & August 27, 2026 (Second Legs)
First Qualifying Round: Complete Results and Aggregate Scores
A total of 52 clubs battled in the Main Path during the opening round, producing several extra-time thrillers and penalty shootout finishes.
Aggregate Match Results
- La Fiorita 0–3 UNA Strassen(Agg.)
- First Leg: UNA Strassen 1–0 La Fiorita
- Second Leg: La Fiorita 0–2 UNA Strassen
- Malisheva 6–2 Vllaznia(Agg.)
- First Leg: Vllaznia 2–1 Malisheva
- Second Leg: Malisheva 5–0 Vllaznia
- Dečić 1–3 Liepāja(Agg.)
- First Leg: Liepāja 1–0 Dečić
- Second Leg: Dečić 1–2 Liepāja
- Astana 2–4 Dinamo City(a.e.t., Agg.)
- First Leg: Dinamo City 0–1 Astana
- Second Leg: Astana 1–4 Dinamo City (a.e.t.)
- Elimai 3–3 Alashkert(Agg. 3–3; Alashkert win 6–5 on penalties)
- First Leg: Alashkert 1–1 Elimai
- Second Leg: Elimai 2–2 Alashkert (a.e.t.)
- Inter Turku 3–2 Sarajevo(Agg.)
- First Leg: Sarajevo 1–1 Inter Turku
- Second Leg: Inter Turku 2–1 Sarajevo
- Ilves 3–1 Differdange(Agg.)
- First Leg: Differdange 0–0 Ilves
- Second Leg: Ilves 3–1 Differdange
- Paide Linnameskond 4–1 Hegelmann(Agg.)
- First Leg: Hegelmann 1–1 Paide
- Second Leg: Paide 3–0 Hegelmann
- Pyunik 4–0 Marsaxlokk(Agg.)
- First Leg: Marsaxlokk 0–3 Pyunik
- Second Leg: Pyunik 1–0 Marsaxlokk
- St Joseph’s 0–2 Bohemians(Agg.)
- First Leg: Bohemians 2–0 St Joseph’s
- Second Leg: St Joseph’s 0–0 Bohemians
- Torpedo Kutaisi 0–6 Zire(Agg.)
- First Leg: Zire 3–0 Torpedo Kutaisi
- Second Leg: Torpedo Kutaisi 0–3 Zire
- Levadia Tallinn 10–0 Caernarfon Town(Agg.)
- First Leg: Caernarfon 0–5 Levadia Tallinn
- Second Leg: Levadia Tallinn 5–0 Caernarfon
- RFS 4–1 Glentoran(Agg.)
- First Leg: Glentoran 1–2 RFS
- Second Leg: RFS 2–0 Glentoran
- BATE Borisov 1–1 Elbasani(Agg. 1–1; BATE win 5–4 on penalties)
- First Leg: Elbasani 1–1 BATE
- Second Leg: BATE 0–0 Elbasani (a.e.t.)
- Dinamo Tbilisi 3–2 Mondorf(a.e.t., Agg.)
- First Leg: Mondorf 1–2 Dinamo Tbilisi
- Second Leg: Dinamo Tbilisi 1–1 Mondorf (a.e.t.)
- FC Santa Coloma 4–0 Penybont(Agg.)
- First Leg: Penybont 0–1 FC Santa Coloma
- Second Leg: FC Santa Coloma 3–0 Penybont
- Milsami Orhei 1–2 Velež Mostar(Agg.)
- First Leg: Velež 1–1 Milsami
- Second Leg: Milsami 0–1 Velež
- Víkingur 3–5 Stjarnan(Agg.)
- First Leg: Stjarnan 3–1 Víkingur
- Second Leg: Víkingur 2–2 Stjarnan
- Žalgiris 5–2 Petrovac(Agg.)
- First Leg: Petrovac 1–3 Žalgiris
- Second Leg: Žalgiris 2–1 Petrovac
- Hamrun Spartans 2–3 Runavík(Agg.)
- First Leg: Runavík 1–1 Hamrun Spartans
- Second Leg: Hamrun Spartans 1–2 Runavík
- Ballkani 3–2 Connah’s Quay Nomads(Agg.)
- First Leg: Connah’s Quay 0–0 Ballkani
- Second Leg: Ballkani 3–2 Connah’s Quay
- Shkëndija 6–0 Europa(Agg.)
- First Leg: Europa 0–5 Shkëndija
- Second Leg: Shkëndija 1–0 Europa
- Sileks 1–1 Dinamo-Minsk(Agg. 1–1; Dinamo-Minsk win 6–5 on penalties)
- First Leg: Dinamo-Minsk 0–1 Sileks
- Second Leg: Sileks 0–1 Dinamo-Minsk (a.e.t.)
- Linfield 2–3 Nõmme Kalju(Agg.)
- First Leg: Kalju 1–0 Linfield
- Second Leg: Linfield 2–2 Kalju
- Mornar 2–4 Atlètic Club d’Escaldes(Agg.)
- First Leg: Atlètic Club d’Escaldes 2–1 Mornar
- Second Leg: Mornar 1–2 Atlètic Club d’Escaldes
- Virtus 2–3 Dila Gori(Agg.)
- First Leg: Dila 3–1 Virtus
- Second Leg: Virtus 1–0 Dila
Second Qualifying Round Schedule & Matchups
The second qualifying round expands dramatically. The Champions Path includes 12 sides defeated in the Champions League first qualifying round. The Main Path features 86 clubs, combining direct entrants, 6 defeated sides from the Europa League first qualifying round, and the 26 winners from the Conference League first round.
First Legs Schedule (All Times CET)
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
- Champions Path: Floriana vs. Drita (19:30), Atert Bissen vs. Győri ETO (20:15)
- Main Path: IFK Göteborg vs. Levadia Tallinn (19:00)
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
- Champions Path: Vardar vs. Riga (20:00)
- Main Path: Neftchi vs. Dinamo-Minsk (18:00), Bohemians vs. Ballkani (19:00), Başakşehir vs. Inter Turku (19:45), Spartak Trnava vs. CSKA 1948 (20:30), Železničar Pančevo vs. Braga (21:00)
Thursday, July 23, 2026
- Champions Path: Flora Tallinn vs. The New Saints (18:00), ML Vitebsk vs. Sutjeska (19:00), Borac vs. Petrocub (20:30)
- Main Path: Malisheva vs. Hibernian (16:30), Liepāja vs. Austria Wien (17:00), Alashkert vs. CFR Cluj (17:00), Panevėžys vs. Tobol (17:30), HJK vs. Coleraine (18:00), Debrecen vs. Pyunik (18:00), Dila vs. Apollon (18:00), Paide vs. Zire (18:00), AEK Larnaca vs. Beitar (18:30), RFS vs. Vestri (18:30), Raków vs. Valletta (18:30), DAC 1904 vs. Velež (18:30), GAIS vs. Nordsjælland (19:00), Universitatea Cluj vs. Brann (19:00), Zimbru vs. Noah (19:00), Dinamo Tbilisi vs. Žalgiris (19:00), BATE vs. Sion (19:00), FC Santa Coloma vs. SK Rapid (19:00), Vaduz vs. Atlètic Club d’Escaldes (19:30), FCSB vs. Auda (19:45), Varaždin vs. Jablonec (20:00), Aluminij vs. Dinamo City (20:00), Paksi vs. Panathinaikos (20:00), Vojvodina vs. Ajax (20:00), Polissya vs. Copenhagen (20:00), Lugano vs. Dukagjini (20:30), Žilina vs. Katowice (20:30), LNZ Cherkasy vs. Gent (20:30), Hapoel Tel-Aviv vs. Ludogorets (20:30), Runavík vs. Koper (20:45), Rijeka vs. Derry (20:45), Bravo vs. Shkëndija (20:45), Shelbourne vs. Kalju (20:45), Motherwell vs. Havnar Bóltfelag (20:45), Partizan vs. UNA Strassen (21:00), Stjarnan vs. Ilves (21:00), Valur vs. Zrinjski (21:15)
Second Legs Schedule (All Times CET)
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
- Champions Path: Riga vs. Vardar (19:00), Drita vs. Floriana (20:00)
- Main Path: Apollon vs. Dila (19:00), CSKA 1948 vs. Spartak Trnava (19:30)
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
- Main Path: Dukagjini vs. Lugano (16:30), Copenhagen vs. Polissya (19:00), SK Rapid vs. FC Santa Coloma (20:30)
Thursday, July 30, 2026
- Champions Path: Petrocub vs. Borac (19:00), Győri ETO vs. Atert Bissen (19:00), The New Saints vs. Flora Tallinn (19:30), Sutjeska vs. ML Vitebsk (21:00)
- Main Path: Tobol vs. Panevėžys (16:00), Atlètic Club d’Escaldes vs. Vaduz (16:00), Inter Turku vs. Başakşehir (18:00), Auda vs. FCSB (18:00), Pyunik vs. Debrecen (18:00), Jablonec vs. Varaždin (18:00), Kalju vs. Shelbourne (18:00), Noah vs. Zimbru (18:00), Ilves vs. Stjarnan (18:00), Zire vs. Paide (18:00), Levadia Tallinn vs. IFK Göteborg (18:30), Nordsjælland vs. GAIS (19:00), Brann vs. Universitatea Cluj (19:00), Žalgiris vs. Dinamo Tbilisi (19:00), Velež vs. DAC 1904 (19:00), Havnar Bóltfelag vs. Motherwell (19:00), Dinamo-Minsk vs. Neftchi (19:00), Derry vs. Rijeka (19:30), Valletta vs. Raków (19:30), Beitar vs. AEK Larnaca (19:30), Shkëndija vs. Bravo (20:00), Ajax vs. Vojvodina (20:00), Ludogorets vs. Hapoel Tel-Aviv (20:00), Ballkani vs. Bohemians (20:00), Sion vs. BATE (20:15), UNA Strassen vs. Partizan (20:15), Austria Wien vs. Liepāja (20:30), Katowice vs. Žilina (20:30), Zrinjski vs. Valur (20:30), Panathinaikos vs. Paksi (20:30), Gent vs. LNZ Cherkasy (20:30), CFR Cluj vs. Alashkert (20:30), Coleraine vs. HJK (20:45), Koper vs. Runavík (20:45), Dinamo City vs. Aluminij (21:00), Hibernian vs. Malisheva (21:00), Braga vs. Železničar Pančevo (21:00), Vestri vs. RFS (22:00)
Third Qualifying Round Overview & Pairings
The third qualifying round features 8 teams in the Champions Path and 52 teams in the Main Path (including 9 teams parachuting down after elimination in the Europa League second qualifying round).
Champions Path Draw
- Tre Fiori vs. Floriana / Drita
- Borac / Petrocub vs. ML Vitebsk / Sutjeska
- Flora Tallinn / The New Saints vs. Inter Club d’Escaldes
- Vardar / Riga vs. Atert Bissen / Győri ETO
Main Path Draw
- Başakşehir / Inter Turku vs. Vaduz / Atlètic Club d’Escaldes
- Dinamo Tbilisi / Žalgiris vs. Hajduk Split / Pafos
- Partizan / UNA Strassen vs. Panevėžys / Tobol
- Paksi / Panathinaikos vs. Spartak Trnava / CSKA 1948
- Vojvodina / Ajax vs. Shelbourne / Kalju
- FCSB / Auda vs. Aluminij / Dinamo City
- Zimbru / Noah vs. BATE / Sion
- Železničar Pančevo / Braga vs. Neftchi / Dinamo-Minsk
- Valur / Zrinjski vs. GAIS / Nordsjælland
- Sheriff / M. Tel-Aviv vs. St. Gallen / Benfica
- Hapoel Tel-Aviv / Ludogorets vs. Žilina / Katowice
- AEK Larnaca / Beitar vs. Liepāja / Austria Wien
- Alashkert / CFR Cluj vs. Tromsø / Hradec Králové
- Dynamo Kyiv / PAOK vs. Qarabağ / CSKA Sofia
- Universitatea Cluj / Brann vs. Dila / Apollon
- Lugano / Dukagjini vs. Runavík / Koper
- Raków / Valletta vs. Hammarby / Anderlecht
- HJK / Coleraine vs. Motherwell / Havnar Bóltfelag
- Malisheva / Hibernian vs. Bravo / Shkëndija
- IFK Göteborg / Levadia Tallinn vs. LNZ Cherkasy / Gent
- Paide / Zire vs. FC Santa Coloma / SK Rapid
- Bohemians / Ballkani vs. Beşiktaş / Midtjylland
- Debrecen / Pyunik vs. Polissya / Copenhagen
- Varaždin / Jablonec vs. RFS / Vestri
- Rijeka / Derry vs. Stjarnan / Ilves
- Twente / Ferencváros vs. DAC 1904 / Velež
Match Dates:
- First Legs: Thursday, August 6, 2026
- Second Legs: Thursday, August 13, 2026
Play-Off Round: Final Hurdle Before the League Phase
The play-off round represents the last step before the league stage. Winners secure entry into the main 36-team tournament, while losers are eliminated from European competition for the season.
- Official Draw Date: Friday, August 3, 2026
- First Legs: Thursday, August 20, 2026
- Second Legs: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Follow Match Zone for live coverage, tactical analysis, match reports, and breaking updates throughout the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League qualifying campaign.
