2024/25 JD Cymru Premier European qualification explained

For the 2024/25 season, the JD Cymru Premier will have its allocated number of UEFA qualification spots decrease from four to three. 

The current format sees the JD Cymru Premier champions qualify for the UEFA Champions League and the JD Welsh Cup winner, JD Cymru Premier runner-up and JD Cymru Premier play-off winner qualify for the UEFA Conference League. 

However, with one fewer spot on offer for the 2024/25 season, the League rules must be amended with regards to how UEFA qualification is determined. The JD Cymru Premier will receive one place in the UEFA Champions League and two places in the UEFA Conference League.

The JD Cymru Premier champions will still qualify for the UEFA Champions League and the JD Welsh Cup winner will still qualify for the UEFA Conference League.

The third and final spot in the UEFA Conference League will still be decided by a play-off, in order to protect the format of the league having a play-off with purpose. As such, the JD Cymru Premier runner-up would not automatically qualify for European competition. 

Dependant on the winner of the 2024/25 JD Welsh Cup, one of the following three play-off scenarios will be enacted (subject to ratification at the JD Cymru Premier AGM): 

Play-offs Scenario 1

If the winner of the JD Welsh Cup is a Club which finishes outside the 1st to 7th place positions in the JD Cymru Premier, then the 2nd to 7th placed Clubs will participate in the play-offs for a UEFA Conference League spot. 

League position of JD Welsh Cup winnerQF1QF2SF1SF2Final
Outside 1-74 v 75 v 62 v lowest ranked QF winner3 v highest ranked QF winnerSF1 winner v SF2 winner (highest ranked at home)

Play-offs Scenario 2

If the winner of the JD Welsh Cup is a Club which finishes inside the 2nd to 7th place positions in the JD Cymru Premier, then the Play-offs shall be configured as follows: 

League position of JD Welsh Cup winnerQF1QF2SFFinal
24 v 75 v 6QF1 winner v QF2 winner (highest ranked at home)3 v SF winner
34 v 75 v 6QF1 winner v QF2 winner (highest ranked at home)2 v SF winner
43 v 75 v 6QF1 winner v QF2 winner (highest ranked at home)2 v SF winner
53 v 74 v 6QF1 winner v QF2 winner (highest ranked at home)2 v SF winner
63 v 74 v 5QF1 winner v QF2 winner (highest ranked at home)2 v SF winner
73 v 64 v 5QF1 winner v QF2 winner (highest ranked at home)2 v SF winner

Play-offs Scenario 3

If the winner of the JD Cymru Premier is also the winner of the JD Welsh Cup, then the 2nd placed Club in the JD Cymru Premier will automatically qualify for the UEFA Conference League. 

The Play-offs will then commence as follows:

League position of JD Welsh Cup winnerQF1QF2SFFinal
14 v 75 v 6QF1 winner v QF2 winner (highest ranked at home)3 v SF winner

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