The 2025/26 season may only just have concluded, but clubs’ preparations for 2026/27 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 2026/27 season?
The JD Cymru Premier has four European representatives for the upcoming season, an increase from three in 2025/26 thanks to the division’s UEFA coefficient.
After lifting the JD Cymru Premier title for the fifth consecutive season in 2025/26, 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 in 2024/25 and will hope to repeat that European success again.
League runners-up Connah’s Quay Nomads will return to the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round after their absence last year, along with the JD Welsh Cup winners Caernarfon Town who progressed to the second qualifying round during their maiden European adventure two years ago.
The final Welsh team to qualify were Penybont, who will compete in Europe for the third time in four years after they defeated Haverfordwest County in the Play-Off Final.
When are the draws?
- UEFA Champions League first qualifying round draw – Tuesday 16 June (3pm)
- UEFA Conference League first qualifying round draw – Tuesday 16 June (5pm)
Clubs will also find out their potential second qualifying round opponents the following day.
- UEFA Champions League second qualifying round draw – Wednesday 17 June (11am)
- UEFA Conference League second qualifying round draw – Wednesday 17 June (1pm)
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 2026 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.
Connah’s Quay Nomads, Penybont and the Caernarfon Town 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: Inter Club d’Escaldes (Andorra), FC Ararat-Armenia, (Armenia), Sabah FC (Azerbaijan), FC Iberia 1999 Tbilisi (Georgia), Floriana FC (Malta), SS Tre Fiori FC (San Marino), FC Vardar (North Macedonia)
Caernarfon Town potential opponents: St Joseph’s FC (Gibraltar), FCI Levadia Tallinn (Estonia), FC Differdange 03 (Luxembourg), Víkingur (Faroe Islands), FC RFS (Latvia)
Connah’s Quay Nomads potential opponents: FC Ballkani (Kosovo), Paide Linnameeskond (Estonia), FK Dečić (Montenegro), FK Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina), FC Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia)
Penybont potential opponents: KF Shkëndija (North Macedonia), Linfield FC (Northern Ireland), Hamrun Spartans FC (Malta), KF Vllaznia (Albania), La Fiorita 1967 (San Marino), FC Santa Coloma (Andorra)
When will the games be played?
The first leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round will be played on Tuesday 7 July or Wednesday 8 July. The second leg will be played on Tuesday 14 July or Wednesday 15 July.
The first leg of the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round will be played on Thursday 9 July. The second leg will be played on Thursday 16 July.
The second qualifying round of both competitions will commence the following week, across Tuesday 21 July to Thursday 23 July.
