Irish League teams prepare for European competition this July

BBC Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 6, 2026, 6:02 PM

Last updated Jul 6, 2026

Irish League teams prepare for European competition this July

Summary

Four teams from the Irish Premiership—Larne, Coleraine, Linfield, and Glentoran—will compete in European qualifiers this month. Larne faces Tre Fiori in the Champions League qualifying round starting July 7, while Coleraine takes on HJK Helsinki in the Conference League later this month. Larne has previously competed in Europe for six consecutive years and reached the group stages, while Coleraine returns to European football after a long absence. Linfield, also looking for success, prepares to meet Nomme Kalju FC in the Conference League. The outcomes of these matches could result in a historic achievement for Irish football.

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Key Details

•Larne faces Tre Fiori in Champions League qualifiers starting July 7
•Coleraine meets HJK Helsinki in Conference League qualifiers on July 23 and 30
•Linfield prepares for Conference League match against Nomme Kalju FC
•Only one Irish League team has reached UEFA group stages previously
•Larne, Coleraine, and Linfield seek to build on recent successes in Europe

Latest Updates

6:02 PMBBC Sport — Will Irish League clubs make more European history?

What they're saying

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European football has become a stage where Irish Premiership teams can dream bigger than ever, but will any clubs achieve more history this season?
— BBC Sport

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