Europe

For the first few rounds the draws are actually made for the next round before you actually play your initial tie.

So for example we enter the Europa League qualifying round 2. The first leg tie is played on 24 July. But the draw for the qualifying round 3 takes place on 21 July, before we even play the first leg tie of qualifying round 2.

The draw for qualifying round 2 takes place on 18 June. Say we draw Braga. So in the draw for the 3rd qualifying round it will be Braga/Hibs v whoever. If we beat Braga (highly unlikely, we don't want them) we will assume the seed. As Braga were the seed (now us) our opponent will be an unseeded side as well, because at the time of the draw Braga were a seed. But tbh it's doesn't make any difference as we will already know our 3rd qualifying opponent.

As far as I know even if we beat Braga it will not improve our co-efficient score. I think these don't come into effect until the following season.

I think this is right but please correct me.

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Originally Posted by Hibees1973

For the first few rounds the draws are actually made for the next round before you actually play your initial tie.

So for example we enter the Europa League qualifying round 2. The first leg tie is played on 24 July. But the draw for the qualifying round 3 takes place on 21 July, before we even play the first leg tie of qualifying round 2.The draw for qualifying round 2 takes place on 18 June. Say we draw Braga. So in the draw for the 3rd qualifying round it will be Braga/Hibs v whoever.

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This is correct

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Originally Posted by Hibees1973

If we beat Braga (highly unlikely, we don't want them) we will assume the seed. As Braga were the seed (now us) our opponent will be an unseeded side as well, because at the time of the draw Braga were a seed.

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This is partially correct – as in the couple of posts above, you don't automatically become a seed by beating a seed. You effectively assume their coefficient for the next round (because of the timing of the draws as you describe), but you're only seeded if that 'borrowed' coefficient is high enough for seeding in the subsequent round. In the case of Braga it definitely would be, but with some of the other Q2 seeds it won't be. Depends on the coefficients of the other teams joining in Q3.

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Originally Posted by Hibees1973

But tbh it's doesn't make any difference as we will already know our 3rd qualifying opponent.

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The difference it makes is that our Q3 opponent is likely to be significantly weaker if we've ended up seeded by beating a team with a high enough coefficient. Our best draw might be the weakest team with a high enough coefficient for Q3 seeding.

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Originally Posted by Hibees1973

As far as I know even if we beat Braga it will not improve our co-efficient score. I think these don't come into effect until the following season.

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This is correct, our actual coefficient can't change until next season. The temporary 'borrowing' of another team's coefficient is down to the uncertainty at the time of the qualifying round draws and doesn't change our actual coefficient.

I'm not sure how any of it works, one thing you are bang on about is that we don't want Braga

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Originally Posted by Gmack7

I'm not sure how any of it works, one thing you are bang on about is that we don't want Braga

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I wouldn't mind them.

Think the best we'll get will be a couple of ties. One against a "glamour" team maybe before getting papped out. Just being realistic.

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Originally Posted by Gmack7

I'm not sure how any of it works, one thing you are bang on about is that we don't want Braga

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I'd actually be pretty happy to get them, Portugal would likely be a great trip and then even if they put us out I think that could be a blessing in disguise.

If we lose Europa Q2, there are a bunch of seeded teams in conference Q3 who I think are beatable, but who's coefficient is high enough for us to then be seeded in the conference play off.

Shamrock Rovers, Omonia Nicosia, Macabi Haifa would all have us definitely seeded for the play off draw, and teams like Jagiellonia Bialystok, NK Celje, Borac Banja Luka likely also would (but this isn't confirmed yet).

All of those ties would be tough but are 100% winnable.

Think this is our only feasible route of making the groups, unless we were to cause a massive upset somewhere and put out a really big team.

Hibernians FC from Malta are in Conference Qualifying..... Make it happen 🇳🇬

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Originally Posted by Since452

Think the best we'll get will be a couple of ties. One against a "glamour" team maybe before getting papped out. Just being realistic.

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Indeed.

I reckon our best hope is to get favourable draws in the Europa League qualifying rounds 2 and 3, win them and get to the play-off phase. There does seem to be a couple of scenarios in these qualifying rounds where we could be drawn against teams we would have more than a decent chance. Even if we lose at the Europa League play-off stage we fall into the Europa Conference League with 6 league games up to Christmas.

If we lose at any of the Europa League qualifying rounds we fall into the Europa Conference League and would have to negotiate at some point the play-off which we have to win to progess. We are bound to hit a big side at this point and likely to be punted. It was Villa a couple of years ago.

Are we definitely at home July 24 given our unseededness

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Originally Posted by Hibees1973

Indeed.

I reckon our best hope is to get favourable draws in the Europa League qualifying rounds 2 and 3, win them and get to the play-off phase. There does seem to be a couple of scenarios in these qualifying rounds where we could be drawn against teams we would have more than a decent chance. Even if we lose at the Europa League play-off stage we fall into the Europa Conference League with 6 league games up to Christmas.

If we lose at any of the Europa League qualifying rounds we fall into the Europa Conference League and would have to negotiate at some point the play-off which we have to win to progess. We are bound to hit a big side at this point and likely to be punted. It was Villa a couple of years ago.

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Win EL-Q2 and we get our opponent's coefficient in EL-Q3 (our opponent, btw, gets our coefficient in ECL-Q3, sorry Braga :greengrin).

If we lose EL-Q2 but win ECL-Q3, we would again inherit our ECL-Q3 opponent's coefficient for ECL-PO.

So, in a nutshell, it's most likely we have 2 attempts to win against a big team and if we follow that with a win against a smaller team, we're in the groups.

(Caveat we could beat a biggish team with not a big enough coefficient for a seeding and then have to play an even bigger team. So expect that I guess. :rolleyes:)

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Originally Posted by JimBHibees

Are we definitely at home July 24 given our unseededness

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A separate draw determines that, I think.

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Originally Posted by JimBHibees

Are we definitely at home July 24 given our unseededness

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I don't think so. Think that only applies in knockout stages, not qualifying.

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Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens

I don't think so. Think that only applies in knockout stages, not qualifying.

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See last sentence below

Seeding

A total of 16 teams will play in the first qualifying round. Seeding of the teams will be based on their 2025 UEFA club coefficients.[10] Before the draw, UEFA may form groups of seeded and unseeded teams per the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee. The first team drawn in each tie will be the home team for the first leg.

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Originally Posted by Fergus52

I'd actually be pretty happy to get them, Portugal would likely be a great trip and then even if they put us out I think that could be a blessing in disguise.

If we lose Europa Q2, there are a bunch of seeded teams in conference Q3 who I think are beatable, but who's coefficient is high enough for us to then be seeded in the conference play off.

Shamrock Rovers, Omonia Nicosia, Macabi Haifa would all have us definitely seeded for the play off draw, and teams like Jagiellonia Bialystok, NK Celje, Borac Banja Luka likely also would (but this isn't confirmed yet).

All of those ties would be tough but are 100% winnable.

Think this is our only feasible route of making the groups, unless we were to cause a massive upset somewhere and put out a really big team.

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Depressing that it looks to be the case that losing our first round might be the best option for us.

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Originally Posted by Centre Hawf

Depressing that it looks to be the case that losing our first round might be the best option for us.

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Think the best option is winning the first two rounds. That means you lose the Europa Playoff and are guaranteed Conference League group football.

Lose the first then you need to win the next two, including the Conference League playoff game. Some serious teams enter that stage, like Villa last time we made it there.

Either way it’s going to be a big ask

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Originally Posted by Thatdayinmay16

I wouldn't mind them.

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Worth it for that mental stadium in a quarry. Always fancied going there since Euro 2004.

From a progressions sake, want to avoid them like the plague.

Another question. Being unseeded does that mean we are home first and away last or is it luck of the draw? I’m about for the first leg but on holiday for the second leg.

J

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Originally Posted by Bristolhibby

Worth it for that mental stadium in a quarry. Always fancied going there since Euro 2004.

From a progressions sake, want to avoid them like the plague.

Another question. Being unseeded does that mean we are home first and away last or is it luck of the draw? I’m about for the first leg but on holiday for the second leg.

J

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I’m pretty sure that will just be drawn on the day rather than us necessarily being at home first

It has maybe been added somewhere on this thread already, but I had just put together some dates for your diaries for all the European games for the Hibs teams for the upcoming season, so I thought I would share them here –

Hibernian FC First team – Hibs enter the UEFA Europa League, at 2^rd round. This is the 55^th edition Season 2025-26 (Scotland are ranked 14^th)
First round draw 17^th June
Second round draw 18^th June
Third round draw 21^st July
First Round games played 10^th and 17^th July

Second Round games played 24^th and 31st July

Third Round games played 7^th and 14^th Aug
Play-offs 21^st and 28^th Aug
League phase Match Day 1 24/25^th September through to Match Day 8 29^th Jan.
Should we lose out in the Europa League we drop down to the Conference League Qualifying League 3^rd round where we would again be unseeded (Scotland ranked 11^th) the draw is made on the 4^{th of} Aug. Games played 7^th and 14^th Aug, Play-offs 21^st and 28^th Aug.

Hibernian FC Women – Play in the 2025–26 UEFA Women's Champions League 25^th edition. Scotland are ranked 16^th.
Hibs entre at the 2^nd round. Draw date 24^th June. And Played 27^th of Aug and 30^th Aug.
If the win they play in the 3^rd round, Draw 31^st Aug, Played 11th and 18^th Sept.
If they win that they entre the League phase with that draw on the 19^{th of} Sept, and six games played between 7/8 Oct and 17^th Dec,

Hibernian FC Under 19s – Hibs enter at the second round of the UEFA Youth League (12^th Edition) Scotland ranked 14^th.
The draw is made on the 3^{rd of} September
2^nd round played 22^nd Oct / 5^th Nov

3^rd round played 26^th Nov / 10^th Dec

Should they progress, they join the winning teams from UEFA Campions League path and are in the round of 32 with the draw being on the 12th of Dec.
The round of 32 play on the 3/4^th Feb 2026.
The round of 16 play on the 24/25^th Feb (Draw for round of 16 onwards is the 6^th Feb)

If anyone spots any mistakes in the above, please feel free to comment with correctiosn.

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Originally Posted by Bristolhibby

Worth it for that mental stadium in a quarry. Always fancied going there since Euro 2004.

From a progressions sake, want to avoid them like the plague.

Another question. Being unseeded does that mean we are home first and away last or is it luck of the draw? I’m about for the first leg but on holiday for the second leg.

J

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Aye the stadium/atmosphere and the fact your almost guaranteed excellent weather while your over there is why they'd be high up on my list.

If I had to choose it would be them or Shakhtar playing in the Volksparkstadion for me.

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Originally Posted by JohnM1875

Think the best option is winning the first two rounds. That means you lose the Europa Playoff and are guaranteed Conference League group football.

Lose the first then you need to win the next two, including the Conference League playoff game. Some serious teams enter that stage, like Villa last time we made it there.

Either way it’s going to be a big ask

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An an ideal world, yeah - but I think we're a lot less likely to qualify that way.

Can't see us beating many of the seeded teams in Q2 Europa, and the ones we would have more chance of beating (Sheriff, Partizan, Cluj) likely wouldn't have us also then seeded for Q3.

If we lose Europa Q2, then there's a few teams in conference Q3 I think we could beat that would then have us seeded for the play off - so we'd avoid your Villas (nottingham forrest this year) Fiorentinas etc.

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Originally Posted by Fergus52

An an ideal world, yeah - but I think we're a lot less likely to qualify that way.

Can't see us beating many of the seeded teams in Q2 Europa, and the ones we would have more chance of beating (Sheriff, Partizan, Cluj) likely wouldn't have us also then seeded for Q3.

If we lose Europa Q2, then there's a few teams in conference Q3 I think we could beat that would then have us seeded for the play off - so we'd avoid your Villas (nottingham forrest this year) Fiorentinas etc.

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But we would qualify if we won the first two rounds of the Europa League qualifiers as we’d be guaranteed conference?

Mind when it was all just about a load of balls being chucked in a bucket, drawn out randomly and folk playing until they won the trophy or lost beforehand? I've not got a clue what's going on, so I'm just going to follow an approach of Hibs win -good, Hibs defeat - bad, then repeat that if somehow we're allowed another game after a loss.

And thank god we're not in the Evolution Cup. I'm not sure a team receiving the trophy can be certain it's not just for being given an east area seeding in the September Round.

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Originally Posted by Fergus52

An an ideal world, yeah - but I think we're a lot less likely to qualify that way.

Can't see us beating many of the seeded teams in Q2 Europa, and the ones we would have more chance of beating (Sheriff, Partizan, Cluj) likely wouldn't have us also then seeded for Q3.

If we lose Europa Q2, then there's a few teams in conference Q3 I think we could beat that would then have us seeded for the play off - so we'd avoid your Villas (nottingham forrest this year) Fiorentinas etc.

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Not sure there are many guarantees that any beatable team in Q3 would be seeded for the playoff round.

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Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens

I don't think so. Think that only applies in knockout stages, not qualifying.

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Ok thanks

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Originally Posted by Posh Swanny

A separate draw determines that, I think.

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👍

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Originally Posted by Glory Lurker

Mind when it was all just about a load of balls being chucked in a bucket, drawn out randomly and folk playing until they won the trophy or lost beforehand? I've not got a clue what's going on, so I'm just going to follow an approach of Hibs win -good, Hibs defeat - bad, then repeat that if somehow we're allowed another game after a loss.

And thank god we're not in the Evolution Cup. I'm not sure a team receiving the trophy can be certain it's not just for being given an east area seeding in the September Round.

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Yeah.

UEFA have taken most of the jeopardy out of these draws, particularly in the early rounds. It's likely we will be in group with a few others, then at the press of a button the draw appears.

Don't even get the tension of waiting on our prestigious, pioneering club being drawn out of a hat/globe for a European tie.

This article seems to suggest we could make the groups without winning any of the playoff games

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...sh-cup-5146236

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Originally Posted by Stokesy's on fire

This article seems to suggest we could make the groups without winning any of the playoff games

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...sh-cup-5146236

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Nah it’s just very badly written.


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Originally Posted by CallumLaidlaw

Nah it’s just very badly written.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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:agree:

1 parachute - we can just find ourselves having to deploy it at up to 3 different points.

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Originally Posted by danhibees1875

:agree:

1 parachute - we can just find ourselves having to deploy it at up to 3 different points.

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The whole thing is confusing.