According to the updated representation, in the 2026-2027 season, the teams "Neftçi" and "Zirə" from Azerbaijan will participate in the UEFA Conference League.
Medianews.az reports that "Zirə," starting from the first round, may face the following possible opponents: "Torpedo" (Georgia), "Velej" (Bosnia), "Virtus" (San Marino), "Liepaya" (Latvia), "Ilves" (Finland), "Connahs Quay," "Penybont," "Caernarfon Town" (Wales), "Bohemians" (Ireland), "Stjarnan" (Iceland), "Europa" (Gibraltar), "Inter" (Finland), "Malisheva" (Kosovo), "Yelimay" (Kazakhstan), "Dinamo," "Elbasani" (Albania), UNA, "Mondorf-le-Ben" (Luxembourg), "Hegelmann" (Lithuania), "Runavik" (Faroe Islands), "Sileks" (North Macedonia), "Mornar Bar," "Petrovac" (Montenegro), "Glentoran" (Northern Ireland), "Marsaxlokk" (Malta), "Kalev" (Estonia).
"Neftçi," entering at the second round, might meet these teams: "Braga" (Portugal), "Ajax" (Netherlands), "Copenhagen," "Nordsjaelland" (Denmark), "Gent" (Belgium), "Rapid," "Austria" (Austria), "Panathinaikos" (Greece), "Ludogorets" (Bulgaria), "Steaua," "Cluj" (Romania), "Rakow," "Katowice" (Poland), "Partizan" (Serbia), "Lugano," "Sion" (Switzerland), AEK, "Apollon" (Cyprus), "Başakşehir" (Turkey), "Rijeka" (Croatia), HJK (Finland), "Zrinjski" (Bosnia), "Brann" (Norway), "Spartak" (Slovakia), "Hradec" (Czech Republic), "Vaduz" (Liechtenstein), "Tobol" (Kazakhstan), "Hibernian" (Scotland), "HB Torshavn" (Faroe Islands).
Azerbaijan will join the Champions League with "Sabah," and the Europa League with "Qarabağ."
The potential opponents for "Sabah," starting from the first round of the Champions League, are: "Shamrock Rovers" from Ireland, KuPS from Finland, "Drita" from Kosovo, "Lincoln" from Gibraltar, "Borac" from Bosnia, "Vikingur" from Iceland, "Kairat" from Kazakhstan, "Universitatea" (Craiova) from Romania, "Riga" from Latvia, "Klaksvik" from Faroe Islands, "Flora" from Estonia, "Larne" from Northern Ireland, "Petrocub" from Moldova, "New Saints" from Wales.
"Qarabağ," qualifying from the first round of the Europa League, has these possible opponents: "Zilina" (Slovakia), "Vojvodina" (Serbia), "Universitatea" (Cluj, Romania), "Aluminij" (Slovenia), "Derry City" (Ireland), "Vestri" (Iceland).
Each of the three tournaments will have four qualification rounds. Teams eliminated in the first round of the Champions League will move to the Conference League, those eliminated in the subsequent rounds will move to the Europa League, and those knocked out of the Europa League qualifiers will drop into the Conference League.
According to the regulations, in the 36-team league stages, the top 8 teams will qualify for the round of 16, and teams placed 9th to 24th will advance to the round of 32.
Toğrul Ali,
Medianews.az