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UEFA announces draw for Champions League first qualifying round

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 16, 2026, 3:14 PM

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

UEFA announces draw for Champions League first qualifying round

Summary

The UEFA Champions League's first qualifying round draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland, with 28 teams participating., Kairat Almaty, the Kazakhstan champion, is aiming to progress through four qualifying rounds to reach the group stage. Kairat will host the champion of Montenegro, Sutjeska-Niksic, in the first leg on July 7 or 8. Other notable match-ups include Borac Banja Luka facing Levski Sofia and Sabah taking on The New Saints of Wales. A second draw for the Champions League’s second qualifying round is scheduled for June 17.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Kairat Almaty enters the draw following a Champions League debut season.
•First legs of qualifying matches are scheduled for July 7 and 8.
•Borac Banja Luka and Sabah are among other teams drawn.
•The next draw for the second qualifying round occurs on June 17.

Latest Updates

3:14 PMYahoo Sports — Next season's Champions League starts with draw for first qualifying round

What they're saying

"
Even before every European team started play at the World Cup, the next UEFA Champions League took its first steps on Tuesday as soccer's relentless calendar moves onward. The 28 teams in the draw for the first qualifying round included Kairat Almaty, which played Real Madrid, Arsenal and Inter Milan this season on its debut in the Champions League main phase. Kairat is again the champion of Kazakhstan and again trying to win through all four qualifying rounds in July and August to reach the lucrative 36-team phase in September.
— Yahoo Sports

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