In the 2026-2027 season of UEFA's club tournaments, all three tournaments have four qualification rounds. Those eliminated in the first round of the Champions League will move to the Conference League, while those eliminated in the following rounds will transfer to the Europa League; those eliminated in the Europa League qualifiers will jump to the Conference League.
It is expected that the Azerbaijani champion will start from the first qualifying round of the Champions League, the national cup winner will start from the first qualifying round of the Europa League, the bronze medalist will start from the first qualifying round of the Conference League, and the silver medalist will start from the second round.
Medianews.az reports that “Sabah” is the favorite to win the 2025-2026 season of the national football championship's top tier (Premier League).
“Qarabağ” and “Turan Tovuz” are contenders for the silver and bronze medals. “Zirə” and “Neftçi” are competing for the fourth place.
The final of the 2025-2026 Azerbaijan Cup will feature “Sabah” and “Zirə.”
“Sabah,” who is undoubtedly the champion, if they also win the cup, will represent the country in the Europa League as the silver medalist. In this case, the team finishing fourth in the championship will compete in the Conference League alongside the bronze medalist.
The most experienced Azerbaijani team on the international stage, “Qarabağ,” with the current trend, will miss out on the Champions League. To drop to the Europa League, the team must win the silver medals and hope that the cup goes to “Sabah”; otherwise, they will only compete in the Conference League.
Medianews.az reminds that “Qarabağ” has participated in the main rounds of UEFA club tournaments for 12 seasons.
The team started the Champions League in the 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021 seasons, progressing to the Europa League by jumping over and participating in the group stage.
In the 2017-2018 season, they played in the group stage of the Champions League.
In the inaugural 2021-2022 season of the Conference League, they advanced to the round of 32.
In the 2022-2023 season, they started in the Champions League, then moved to the Europa League, and later dropped to the Conference League, stopping at the round of 32.
They started the 2023-2024 season in the Champions League, advanced to the Europa League, and progressed to the round of 16.
They began the 2024-2025 season with the Champions League and ended in the league phase of the Europa League.
In the 2025-2026 season, the team progressed to the round of 32 in the Champions League.
Toğrul Ali,
Medianews.az