What We Know So Far: UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24
Derry City FC are due to play in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers this summer.
This will be the third year of the European competition with West Ham having just won the latest.
The Candystripes earned a spot in Europe through winning the FAI Cup and finishing 2nd in the league.
Derry will be entering the first qualifying round as an unseeded team along with St. Pat’s, whilst Dundalk are seeded.
City’s last European fixture was against Riga last year with the Latvian side winning 4-0 on aggregate.
When is the draw?
The draw for the first qualifying round is due to take place on Tuesday 20th June in Switzerland. Usually around 1pm.
When is the First Qualifying Round?
Provisionally ties are to take place on Thursday 13th July and the return legs a week later on 20th July. These dates can change once the draw has been made and fixtures are confirmed.
Best to wait for confirmation before booking any travel.
Who can we face?
There are 30 seeded teams we could draw in the first qualifying round, these are listed below.
| F91 Dudelange (LUX) | Riga FC (LAT) |
| NK Maribor (SLO) | Shkendija Tetovo (MAC) |
| Linfield (NIR) | FC Vaduz (LIE) |
| DAC Dunajska Streda (SVK) | Pyunik Yerevan (ARM) |
| Alashkert FC (ARM) | Sutjeska Niksic (MON) |
| FK Shkupi (MAC) | FK Sarajevo (BOS) |
| RFS Riga (LAT) | Tobol Kustanai (KAZ) |
| B36 Torshavn (FAR) | Ararat-Armenia (ARM) |
| Gzira United (MLT) | Levadia Tallinn (EST) |
| Dinamo Minsk (BLS) | Connah’s Quay (WAL) |
| Milsami Orhei (MOL) | HB Torshavn (FAR) |
| Europa FC (GIB) | NK Domzale (SLO) |
| FC Santa Coloma (AND) | Progrès Niederkorn (LUX) |
| Dinamo Batumi (GEO) | Inter Club d’Escaldes (AND) |
| Crusaders (NIR) | Paide Linnameeskond (EST) |
Source: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/seedecl2023.html
Teams are usually split up into smaller, more regionalised groups of potential opponents nearer the draw.
Familiar faces in the list include Dinamo Minsk who City faced in 2018, Riga from last year and NK Maribor from 1997.
Along with Belfast sides, Crusaders and Linfield.