THE ROUTES ARE SET, BUT THE NAMES ARE NOT YET FINAL
UEFA completed the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League play-off draws on 3 August 2026. For the Albanian clubs, the results create a clear map of the final step before the league phase, but not yet final opponents: Egnatia and Dinamo City must first negotiate the third qualifying round.
EGNATIA'S EUROPA LEAGUE SCENARIO
Egnatia have been paired with Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League third qualifying round. Under the official draw, the winner of that tie will face Norway's Lillestrøm in the play-off round.
The Europa League play-off first leg is scheduled for 20 August, with the return on 27 August. The winner over two legs enters the Europa League league phase.
The draw also defines Egnatia's safety net in the event of elimination. If the Albanian champions do not get past Shamrock Rovers, their European campaign will not end immediately: they will transfer to the Conference League play-off and meet the winner of KuPS Kuopio against Universitatea Craiova.
DINAMO CITY'S CONFERENCE LEAGUE ROUTE
Dinamo City face Auda in the Conference League third qualifying round. UEFA has placed the winner of that tie against the team eliminated from the Europa League meeting between Pafos and Salzburg.
The Conference League play-offs will also be played on 20 and 27 August. Unlike in the Europa League, teams eliminated at this stage do not move into another European competition. For Dinamo City, therefore, overcoming Auda would open one final and decisive tie for a league-phase place.
WHAT THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW PRODUCED
The Champions League draw involved 14 clubs or unresolved pairings. Celtic will face LASK. In the league path, the winner of Fenerbahçe–Sturm Graz will meet the winner of Sparta Prague–Lyon, while the winner of Olympiacos–N.E.C. will play the winner of Union Saint-Gilloise–Bodø/Glimt.
The Champions League play-off first legs take place on 18 and 19 August, with the returns on 25 and 26 August.
WHY THE DRAW MATTERS
The draw guarantees no qualification, and several opponents remain conditional on third-round results. It does, however, give clubs a complete sporting and logistical picture: the possible opponent, the dates and the competition in which they may continue.
For Egnatia, victory over Shamrock Rovers would bring a Europa League play-off against Lillestrøm, while defeat would preserve an opportunity in the Conference League. For Dinamo City, everything begins with overcoming Auda; only then can the club pursue the final step towards the league phase.