On Monday morning, UEFA released the mini-groups for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League, narrowing the list of potential opponents for clubs from the Baltic region from 24 down to just four. With several possible all-Baltic matchups on the horizon, here’s a look at the key groupings involving clubs from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Mini-Group 1: Three Baltic Clubs in the Mix
Mini-Group 1 features eight teams split evenly between seeded and unseeded sides — and among them are three clubs from the Baltic states.
Seeded:
- Paide Linnameeskond (Estonia)
Unseeded (potential opponents for Paide):
- BFC Daugavpils (Latvia)
- FC Hegelmann (Lithuania)
- FCB Magpies (Gibraltar)
- NSÍ Runavík (Faroe Islands)
As unseeded teams, BFC Daugavpils and FC Hegelmann could face a tough draw, with potential opponents including:
- Paide Linnameeskond (Estonia)
- HJK Helsinki (Finland)
- St Patrick’s Athletic (Ireland)
- KF Vllaznia (Albania)
Baltic derbies are certainly a possibility here, with both Daugavpils and Hegelmann at risk of drawing Paide in the opening round.
Mini-Group 4: Another Baltic Trio
Another set of Baltic clubs appears in Mini-Group 4, also split between seeded and unseeded teams.
Seeded:
- FC Flora Tallinn (Estonia)
- KÍ Klaksvík (Faroe Islands)
- Larne FC (Northern Ireland)
- FK Kauno Žalgiris (Lithuania)
Unseeded:
- Penybont FC (Wales)
- Valur (Iceland)
- SJK Seinäjoki (Finland)
- FK Auda (Latvia)
This group sets the stage for a potential showdown between Lithuania’s Kauno Žalgiris and Latvia’s FK Auda, or another tough test for Estonian powerhouse Flora Tallinn.
Nõmme Kalju FC Faces a Tough Path
The final Baltic team entering the competition from the first qualifying round is Estonian Cup winner Nõmme Kalju FC, who finds itself among the unseeded sides. Their potential opponents in the seeded category include:
- Víkingur Reykjavík (Iceland)
- FK Partizani (Albania)
- Floriana FC (Malta)
- St Joseph’s FC (Gibraltar)
The Draw Is Set for 17:00 Today
All eyes will be on the UEFA headquarters at 17:00 today, when the draw for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League will be held.
