The 2025/26 European campaign is fast approaching, and preparations for our fifth consecutive season in continental competition are already underway.
With anticipation building, we are now just one day away from finding out our First Qualifying Round opposition, with the draw being held in Nyon, Switzerland, tomorrow afternoon at 3pm UK time.
Standing in our way of progression to the second round are 24 possible opponents from 18 countries across the continent with this article taking a look at each of the potential outcomes.
FC Santa Coloma (Andorra)
13-time winners of the Andorran Premier League, FC Santa Coloma are regulars in European competition.
Preparing for their 22nd continental run this century, they come into this season’s competition off the back of an impressive run in the Conference League last year.
Having beaten Penybont of Wales and Montenegrin side FK Sutjeska Nikšić, Santa Coloma were eventually beaten in the third round by Dutch side AZ Alkmaar 3-0 on aggregate.
Dynamo Brest (Belarus)
Dynamo Brest finished the 2024 Belarusian Premier League season in fourth place, 19 points behind champions Dinamo Minsk who we met in last season’s League Phase. The side are now preparing for their seventh time in European competition and a first since losing to Viktoria Plzeň in 2021-22.
Auda (Latvia)
FK Auda are one of the top teams in the Latvian Higher League and local rivals of RFS who were our first-round opponents last July.
The side have only met Northern Irish competition once before, beating Cliftonville 4-1 on aggregate just last season in the Conference League Second Qualifying Round.
Neman Grodno (Belarus)
Currently ninth in the Belarusian Premier League, the side finished second last season, just three points behind the eventual champions and are now preparing for a third successive season in European competition.
Bruno’s Magpies (Gibraltar)
The former club of Larne Head Coach Nathan Rooney, Bruno’s Magpies, are one of the youngest clubs on this list, having been formed in 2013.
Created by a group of friends drinking in the popular Bruno’s Bar and Restaurant in Gibraltar, the club also derived their nickname ‘The Magpies’ due to their founders’ support for Newcastle United.
Under the stewardship of Rooney, the club won the 2022-23 Rock Cup and achieved a historic two-legged win over Derry City in last season’s Europa Conference League Qualifying Rounds.
Atlètic Escaldes (Andorra)
Set to compete in Europe for the fifth year in a row, Atlètic Escaldes were founded in 2002 and have followed a similar path to Larne.
Promoted to the Andorran Premier League in 2018-19, the side won their first league title in 2022-23 but are yet to win a European game with their best result coming in a 1-1 draw with Maltese side Gżira United.
Torpedo Kutaisi (Georgia)
The second most successful club in Georgia, Torpedo Kutaisi have won the national league four times and the Georgian Cup five times
In 2018-19 the club almost became the first Georgian side to qualify for the Europa League Group Stages, losing in the Playoff Round to Bulgaria’s Ludogrets Razgrad.
Valur (Iceland)
Full name Knattspyrnufélagið Valur, they are the current holders of the Icelandic League Cup and currently sit third in the Icelandic Premier League.
The Reykjavik side is one of the most successful sides in the country, winning 23 championships and having previously had the likes of former Swansea and Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurðsson amongst their ranks.
Tre Fiori (San Marino)
Formed in 1949, Tre Fiori FC are based in Fiorentino, San Marino first qualified for European competition in 2009-10 and have since done so a further seven times.
They are the most successful side in the nation’s history but haven’t won a league title since 2019-20 and last won silverware in 2021-22 when they lifted the Coppa Titano for an eighth time.
FK Željezničar Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Commonly referred to as Željo, their name translates to ‘railway worker’ which refers to the group of founding members who created the club in 1921.
The club have has a proud history of producing young talents through their academy, developing none other than former Manchester City forward Edin Džeko who spent nine years at the club including two in the senior squad.
Birkirkara (Malta)
Birkirkara are a fully professional side based in Malta and play at the 16,000 capacity Ta Qali Stadium.
This season will be the third time in the last five years they have played in European competition with the side having exited in the first round in the European Conference League after a narrow 3-2 aggregate loss to Slovenian giants Maribor.
Racing FC (Luxembourg)
Entering the competition for a third time, the Luxembourg side have never won a game in Europe in eight attempts.
Formed in 2005, the club is the product of a merger of eight clubs, with Racing Club Luxembourg and Union Sportive Luxembourg having previously been two of the most historic clubs in the country before amalgamating.
Sileks (North Macedonia)
Formed in 1965, FK Sileks has established itself as one of the top sides in Macedonia.
However, despite their presence in their home country, the club is set to appear in continental football for the first time in four seasons with their last appearance seeing a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Moldovan side Petrocub Hîncești.
Daugavpils (Latvia)
Daugavpils are currently fifth in the Latvian Higher League and are yet another club in their infancy having been formed in 2009.
In their not even 20 year history, the side have won two Latvian Frist Division titles and are now preparing for a first ever European appearance.
KF Malisheva (Kosovo)
Only formed in 2016, KF Malisheva are appearing set to make their second European appearance, having lost in the First Qualifying Round of last season’s Conference League.
SJK (Finland)
Full name, Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho, the club are currently fifth in the Finnish Veikkausliiga and are under the stewardship of Scottish manager Stevie Grieve.
The 38-year-old has previously worked for Dundee United and St Johnstone where he was Head of Recruitment but has been with SJK since 2023.
NSÍ Runavik (Faroe Islands)
A side that has been a European regular over the last 15 years, NSÍ Runavik have twice face Northern Irish opposition.
In 2015-16 the side suffered a 5-4 aggregate loss to Linfield before losing to Ballymena United 2-0 in 2019-20.
Hegelmann (Lithuania)
FC Hegelmann have been in the Lithuanian top flight since 2021 and in that time have never finished lower than fifth and currently sit second.
The club made their European debut last season, but will be hoping to improve on their performance, having lost 5-0 to Macedonian side KF Shkupi.
Nõmme Kalju (Estonia)
Nõmme Kalju FC are two-time Estonian champions and current holders of the Estonian Cup.
They are currently under the management of Russian Nikita Andreyev, who at 36-years-old is in his first role as Manager and guided the side to a second place league finish last season.
Dinamo City (Albania)
Dinamo City are the second most decorated side in Albania having won 18 league title and 14 Albanian Cups.
The side are the current cup champions and are set to compete in Europe for the first time in 15 years.
Haverfordwest (Wales)
A semi-professional side competing in the Cymru Premier League, the side come into their European campaign off the back of their joint best ever league season, having come third in 2024-25.
The Welsh club are the only side on this list that we have previously faced, meeting pre-season this time last year when we secured a 2-0 win at Inver Park.
Penybont (Wales)
The second Welsh side on this list, Penybont, finished their league season 13 points ahead of Haverfordwest.
They are set to make their second appearance in Europe, having played in the Conference League two seasons ago when they exited at the first round.
FK Vardar (North Macedonia)
The current Macedonian Cup champions, Vardar became the first side from the nation to reach a European group stage in 2017.
Having pulled off an upset to beat Turkish side Fenerbache, Vardar were drawn in a group with Rosenborg, Real Sociedad and Zenit St Petersburg.
FK Rabotnički (North Macedonia)
Four time Macedonian First League champions, FK Rabotnǐki qualified for the competition with a third place league finish in 2024-25, their best season since 2017-18.
This will be the sides first appearance in Europe since 2018-19, whilst they have performed well in the past, twice reaching the Europa League Playoff Round but never reaching a group stage.
