All 12 Baltic clubs involved in this summer’s European campaigns learned either their potential or confirmed opponents in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round draw held on Wednesday. The draw once again paired Estonian clubs with Scandinavian opposition, while Latvian sides were handed some challenging potential matchups.
In the Champions Path, Baltic champions Flora Tallinn, Kauno Žalgiris and Riga FC would all drop into the Conference League second qualifying round should they be eliminated from the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round.
The draw determined that, in the event of defeat against Iberia 1999, Estonian champions Flora would face the loser of the tie between Azerbaijani champions Sabah and Welsh champions The New Saints. Kauno Žalgiris, if eliminated by Kosovo champions Drita, would meet the loser of the clash between Irish champions Shamrock Rovers and Maltese champions Floriana. Riga FC, meanwhile, would take on the loser of the Champions League tie between North Macedonian champions Vardar and Finnish champions KuPS if they fail to overcome Armenian champions Ararat-Armenia.
In the Main Path, Latvian Cup winners FK Auda were handed a tough draw and will face Romanian giants FCSB in the second qualifying round. FK Liepāja, should they progress past Montenegrin side Dečićc in the opening round, would then meet Austrian Bundesliga club Austria Wien. Virslīga leaders RFS, meanwhile, were drawn against the loser of the Europa League tie between Azerbaijani vice-champions Qarabag and Icelandic club Vestri, provided they advance from their own first-round matchup.
Estonian clubs once again found themselves paired with Scandinavian opposition. FCI Levadia, if they defeat Welsh side Caernarfon Town, will face Swedish giants IFK Göteborg in the second qualifying round. Nõmme Kalju, should they eliminate Northern Irish side Linfield, will meet Irish club Shelbourne.
Lithuanian Cup winners FK Panevėžys were handed a long trip east after being paired with Kazakhstan’s Tobol. Vilnius Žalgiris received a potentially more favourable draw, with either Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi or Luxembourg’s Mondorf awaiting them should they overcome OFK Petrovac of Montenegro.
Meanwhile, the winner of the all-Baltic first qualifying round clash between FC Hegelmann and Paide Linnameeskond will face either Azerbaijani side Zira or Georgian club Torpedo Kutaisi in the second qualifying round.
The second qualifying round matches are scheduled to be played on 24 and 31 July.
Baltic Clubs – UEFA Conference League second qualifying round draw
| Baltic Club | First Qualifying Round | Second Qualifying Round Opponent (if qualified) |
|---|---|---|
| FK Auda (LAT) | Enters in Q2 | FCSB (Romania) |
| FK Liepāja (LAT) | Dečiv (Montenegro) | Austria Wien (Austria) |
| RFS (LAT) | Glentoran (Northern Ireland) | Qarabag (Azerbaijan) / Vestri (Iceland) loser |
| FCI Levadia (EST) | Caernarfon Town (Wales) | IFK Göteborg (Sweden) |
| Nõmme Kalju (EST) | Linfield (Northern Ireland) | Shelbourne (Ireland) |
| FK Panevėžys (LTU) | Enters in Q2 | Tobol (Kazakhstan) |
| FK Žalgiris (LTU) | Petrovac (Montenegro) | Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia) / Mondorf (Luxembourg) |
| FC Hegelmann (LTU) | Paide Linnameeskond (Estonia) | Zira (Azerbaijan) / Torpedo Kutaisi (Georgia) |
| Paide Linnameeskond (EST) | Hegelmann (Lithuania) | Zira (Azerbaijan) / Torpedo Kutaisi (Georgia) |
