Hibernians will face the winner of FC Spartak Trnava (Slovakia) versus BK Häcken (Sweden) in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round, following Wednesday afternoon’s draw held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.
The Paolites, holders of the FA Trophy, received a direct berth in the second round of European qualification, a boost granted due to a unique reshuffling in the UEFA competition structure. With Chelsea and Real Betis, last season’s Conference League finalists, earning group-stage access to the Champions League and Europa League, respectively, Hibernians were promoted automatically, bypassing the opening round, unlike Birkirkara and Floriana.
Placed as an unseeded side in Group 4, Hibernians were in line to face several potential opponents, including:
- NSÍ Runavík (Faroe Islands) vs HJK Helsinki (Finland)
- FC Malisheva (Kosovo) vs Víkingur Reykjavík (Iceland)
- FC Vaduz (Leichstenstein)
- Tre Fiori (San Marino) vs FC Pyunik (Armenia)
- Spartak Trnava (Slovakia) vs BK Häcken (Sweden)
Ultimately, the draw paired them with a demanding opponent from Central or Northern Europe. Spartak Trnava, one of Slovakia’s most historic clubs, and Häcken, known for their aggressive attacking style in Sweden’s Allsvenskan, will battle it out in the first round to determine Hibs’ opponent.
Hibernians will approach this tie with confidence and experience. Their automatic promotion to this stage reflects a similar scenario to Sliema Wanderers last season, when European restructuring allowed them to skip the initial round and secure vital UEFA funding. The direct entry not only helps reduce fixture congestion and travel demands but also boosts the club financially through increased solidarity payments and potential matchday revenues.
The two-legged tie is set to take place on July 24 and 31, with the Maltese side hoping to advance further than in recent European campaigns. Preparations are already underway as Branko Nisevic’s team gears up for a pivotal summer in continental football.
