UEFA Conference League: Polish giants await Caernarfon Town – if they get past Crusaders

Caernarfon Town will take on Polish giants Legia Warsaw if they get past Northern Ireland’s Crusaders in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.

The Canaries will embark on their first-ever European tie when they face NIFL Premiership side The Crues next month.

Town will play the home leg first, at Nantporth Stadium, Bangor, then travel to north Belfast seven days later.

Seven-time NIFL Premiership winners Crusaders are regulars in European competition and have progressed to the second qualifying round in the previous two campaigns.

Richard Davies’ men will be well-travelled to Northern Ireland as they make the journey to Cliftonville for a pre-season friendly at the end of June.

Also in the UEFA Conference League, a first trip to Slovenia awaits for Connah’s Quay Nomads as they have been drawn against NK Bravo.

Bravo were only promoted to the Slovenian top-flight in 2019 and are competing in Europe for the first time in their history after finishing fourth last season.

Progress to the second qualifying round would see the Nomads come up against HŠK Zrinjski Mostar of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bala Town are back in Europe for the first time in two years and they have been handed a tie against Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia in the UEFA Conference League.

This is Paide’s fifth consecutive season in European competition, with their best performance coming in 2022/23 when they made it to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League before defeat to Anderlecht.

It will be Bala’s second visit to Estonia after they made their European debut against Levadia Tallinn in 2013/14.

Colin Caton’s side will meet either Icelandic side Stjarnan or Northern Ireland’s Linfield if they make it through to the second qualifying round.

All first qualifying round first legs will be played in the week commencing 8 July, before the second legs in the week commencing 15 July. Exact dates, kick-off times and home/away allocations will be confirmed by UEFA in due course.