The UEFA Conference League First Qualifying Round draw took place today, with seven Baltic teams starting from the first round learning their opponents for the summer’s European action.
Lithuanian Clubs Head to the British Isles
Lithuanian vice-champions and current league leaders FC Hegelmann, who were unseeded, had potential opponents including Estonia’s Paide Linnameeskond, Finland’s HJK, Albania’s Vllaznia, and Ireland’s St Patrick’s Athletic. The draw matched Hegelmann with St Patrick’s Athletic, last season’s League of Ireland bronze medalists who currently sit fourth in their domestic league. This won’t be the first European encounter between St Pat’s and a Lithuanian side—they lost 3-4 on aggregate to FK Žalgiris in the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round.
Meanwhile, fellow A Lyga frontrunners FK Kauno Žalgiris, who were seeded, received arguably the easiest possible opponent: Penybont FC from Wales. Penybont finished second in the Welsh league last season, marking their highest-ever finish. This will be the club’s second foray into European competition—during their debut two years ago, they lost 1-3 on aggregate to Andorra’s FC Santa Coloma in the first qualifying round of the Conference League.
Tough Draws for Estonian Sides
The draw was less favorable for Estonian clubs. Paide Linnameeskond, last season’s bronze medalists in the Meistriliiga and a seeded team in this round, were paired with FCB Magpies from Gibraltar. The Magpies are the current Gibraltar Cup holders and will be making their fourth consecutive appearance in European competition. Last season, they famously knocked out Ireland’s Derry City before falling to FC Copenhagen with a harsh 1-8 aggregate defeat.
FC Flora Tallinn, the current Estonian league leaders, will face Valur of Iceland—a club with no prior history against Estonian sides. Historically, Estonian teams have struggled against Icelandic opposition. Just last year, Flora’s European journey ended with a loss to Vikingur Reykjavik in the Conference League’s third qualifying round.
Estonian Cup winners Nõmme Kalju FC, returning to European competition for the first time since 2020, were unseeded and drew Partizani of Albania, a former national champion. This will be the first-ever meeting between Partizani and an Estonian club in European competition.
Long Flights for Latvian Clubs, Daugavpils to Make European Debut
BFC Daugavpils, making their European debut after finishing fifth in the Latvian Virslīga last season, will travel to Albania to face KF Vllaznia, who finished as runners-up in the Albanian league. This will be the first meeting between Vllaznia and any team from the Baltic region.
FK Auda, who came close to reaching the UEFA Conference League playoff round last year, have been drawn against a familiar name for Latvian fans: Larne FC of Northern Ireland. Larne featured in last season’s Conference League, but their European campaign started with a heavy 0-7 aggregate defeat to Latvian champions FC RFS in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round.
More to Come in Tomorrow’s Second-Round Draw
The UEFA Conference League second qualifying round draw will take place tomorrow, when the two remaining Baltic clubs—Riga FC and FK Banga Gargždai—will learn their opponents. Both clubs begin their European campaigns in the second round.
First-leg matches of the opening round are scheduled for July 10, with the return legs taking place on July 17.
