The 2024/25 season may only just have concluded, but clubs’ preparations for 2025/26 are already well under way – particular those involved in European competition.
The first qualifying round draws take place later this month, so here is everything you need to know.
Which JD Cymru Premier clubs are competing in Europe in the 2025/26 season?
After lifting the JD Cymru Premier title for the fourth consecutive season in 2024/25, The New Saints will once again play in the UEFA Champions League and enter in the first qualifying round. Craig Harrison’s side made history by reaching the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League last season and will hope to do so again.
League runners-up Penybont will compete in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round for the second time in three years, along with Haverfordwest County who were the final Welsh team to qualify after defeating Caernarfon Town in the JD Cymru Premier European Play-Off Final.
When are the draws?
- UEFA Champions League first qualifying round draw – Tuesday 17 June (1pm BST)
- UEFA Conference League first qualifying round draw – Tuesday 17 June (3pm BST)
Clubs will also find out their potential second qualifying round opponents the following day.
- UEFA Champions League second qualifying round draw – Wednesday 18 June (11am BST)
- UEFA Conference League second qualifying round draw – Wednesday 18 June (1pm BST)
All draws will be streamed on UEFA.com.
How do the draws work?
Clubs have been divided into groups to narrow down their potential opponents, with each group containing an equal number of seeded and unseeded teams, based on the 2025 UEFA club coefficients.
The New Saints will be seeded in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round draw. If they win their tie, they will progress to the second qualifying round. If they lose their tie, they will move to the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round.
Penybont and Haverfordwest County will be unseeded in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round draw. If they win their tie, they will progress to the second qualifying round. If they lose their tie, they will be eliminated from European competition.
The New Saints potential opponents: KF Shkëndija (North Macedonia), FC Levadia Tallinn (Estonia), Hamrun Spartans (Malta), FC Milsami Orhei (Moldova), FC Iberia 1999 Tbilisi (Georgia)
Penybont potential opponents: FC Flora Tallinn (Estonia), KI Klaksvik (Faroe Islands), Larne (Northern Ireland), FK Kauno Zalgiris (Lithuania)
Haverfordwest County potential opponents: Vikingur Reykjavik (Iceland), FK Partizani (Albania), Floriana (Malta), St Joseph’s (Gibraltar)
When will the games be played?
The first leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round will be played on Tuesday 8 July or Wednesday 9 July. The second leg will be played on Tuesday 15 July or Wednesday 16 July.
The first leg of the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round will be played on Thursday 10 July. The second leg will be played on Thursday 17 July.
The second qualifying round of both competitions will commence the following week, across Tuesday 22 July to Thursday 24 July.
