The JD Cymru Premier representatives in European football for 2026/27 discovered their first and second qualifying round opponents in the UEFA draws in Nyon.
In the UEFA Champions League, The New Saints will meet Azerbaijan side Sabah, who are making their debut in the competition. Craig Harrison’s side will be away in the first leg before hosting the second leg at Park Hall.
Sabah won the Azerbaijan Premier League for the first time in 2025/26, ending Qarabag’s run of four consecutive titles. They have won three of their previous seven European ties, which have seen them reach the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League on each occasions.
Should The New Saints overcome Sabah FC, they will progress to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, where they will face the winner of Vardar of North Macedonia or KuPS of Finland.
However, if they are unable to get past the Azerbaijani side, they will drop into the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round, where they would meet either Flora Tallinn of Estonia or Iberia Tbilisi of Georgia.
In the UEFA Conference League, Connah’s Quay Nomads will meet FC Ballkani of Kosovo. John Disney’s team will be at home in the first leg – at Colwyn Bay’s Blue Turtle Arena – before travelling away in the second leg.
Three-time champions of Kosovo, FC Ballkani finished third in the table last season. They have strong pedigree on the continent, having reached the group stage of the UEFA Conference League in 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Should the Nomads come through their tie against the Kosovan side, they will progress to the second qualifying round, where they will face the winner of the first qualifying round clash between Bohemians of Ireland and St Joseph’s of Gibraltar.
Caernarfon Town will also be at home in the first leg, welcoming Estonian side FCI Levadia Tallinn to The Oval before travelling away in the second leg.
FCI Levadia Tallinn have won the Estonian top-flight on 11 previous occasions, most recently in 2024, and currently sit 10 points clear at the top of the table – and unbeaten – midway through the 2026 campaign. Regulars in European competition, they have previously beaten both The New Saints and Bala Town.
If the Cofis come through their tie, they will be rewarded with a testing second qualifying round encounter against Swedish giants IFK Göteborg.
Finally, Penybont will face a re-match against FC Santa Coloma of Andorra – who they also met in the first qualifying round three years ago. Bont will host the first leg at Cardiff City Stadium, before travelling away in the second leg.
FC Santa Coloma were 3-1 winners on aggregate in that tie in 2023/24 and they went on to reach the third qualifying round that season – the furthest they have ever progressed in European competition. They have won the Andorran top-flight on a record 13 occasions, but not since 2019, and finished fourth last season – only qualifying for the UEFA Conference League after the two clubs above them failed to achieve a UEFA licence.
If Penybont win their tie, they will advance to the next stage of European qualifying, where they will face Austrian Bundesliga side SK Rapid.
All first qualifying round first legs will be played in the week commencing 6 July, before the second legs in the week commencing 13 July. The second qualifying round first legs will take place on 23 July, with the return fixtures scheduled for 30 July.
Exact dates and kick-off times for both qualifying rounds will be confirmed by UEFA in due course.
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