UK Teams' European Qualification Draws: Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League
This week, Rangers, Hibernian, and Dundee United, along with other UK teams, will learn their initial opponents in the qualification rounds of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. The draws for the first round of qualifying for all three competitions are scheduled for Tuesday, 17 June, followed by the second round draws a day later. Each competition consists of four qualifying rounds before the league phase. The Scottish teams will enter at the second qualifying round - Rangers in the Champions League, Hibs in the Europa League, and Dundee United in the Conference League. Northern Irish champions Linfield and Welsh title winners The New Saints will start in the first round of Champions League qualifying. Dungannon Swifts, winners of the Irish Cup, will join Dundee United in the second round of Conference League qualifying. The remaining UK teams, Penybont, Haverfordwest County, Larne, and Cliftonville, will feature in the Conference League's first qualifying round. The first and second rounds of qualifying for all three competitions will take place in July.
In the Champions League's first qualifying round, the 28 teams have been divided into seeded and unseeded pots. The New Saints and Linfield are seeded, potentially facing teams like Dinamo Minsk, Shelbourne, or Noah. If they advance to the second round, they will enter the champions path. Rangers, in the league path, will face Panathinaikos, Servette, or Brann in the second round. Celtic will enter at the play-off qualifying round, with Basel and Sturm Graz among their potential opponents. Hibernian will be the only British team in the first two Europa League qualifying rounds, facing teams like Braga, Anderlecht, or Midtjylland. Aberdeen will enter the final round of Europa League qualifying as an unseeded team.
Six of the 10 UK teams will participate in the Conference League. Larne, Cliftonville, Penybont, and Haverfordwest County will enter the first round, with Larne as a seeded team. Dundee United and Dungannon Swifts will join in the second round, with Dundee United as a seeded team. Nottingham Forest will enter the final round of Conference League qualifying as a seeded team. The article is part of BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything service, dedicated to answering questions and providing insights into various sports events. The team aims to inform and engage with sports enthusiasts through various BBC platforms, including the website, app, social media, and TV and radio broadcasts.