Floriana will be facing Haverfordwest County AFC of Wales while Birkirkara will be meeting FC Petrocub of Moldova in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round as the draw was held on Tuesday at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
Both teams were drawn to play the first leg at home but UEFA could switch the order of the fixtures. First qualifying round matches will be played on 10 and 17 July 2025.
Floriana’s opponents – Haverfordwest County Association Football Club are based in Haverfordwest, Wales. The club was founded in 1899 and was variously known as Haverfordwest FC, Haverfordwest Town, and Haverfordwest Athletic before adopting the current name. Until a few days ago, they had Malta international defender Luke Tabone on their books.
Last season, the Bluebirds finished third in the Welsh Premier League on 51 points, twenty seven points behind champions The New Saints and thirteen behind runners-up Penybont. Thanks to this result, they managed to equal their best ever placing in the Welsh top division which they had first managed to obtain in 2003/04.
This is only their third participation in European competitions. In 2004 they were eliminated from the UEFA Cup by FH of Iceland with a 1-4 aggregate score. Then in 2023, they qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League and after eliminating Shkendija of North Macedonia 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 aggregate score, they were eliminated by B36 of the Faroe Islands with a 3-2 aggregate score.
Birkirkara’s opponents – Fotbal Club Petrocub Hîncești, commonly known as Petrocub Hîncești or simply Petrocub, are based in Hîncești, Moldova. Founded in 1994, they were only renamed to FC Petrocub Hincesti in 2015.
They won their first Moldovan Super Liga in 2023/24 and the Moldovan Cup twice – in 2019/20 and 2023/24.
Last season, Petrocub placed fourth in Phase II, seven points behind champions Milsami Orhei and six behind Sheriff Tiraspol and Zimbru Chisinau.
They made their European debut in 2018, only to be eliminated from the first qualifying round by Osijek of Croatia. Since then, they have been participating regularly, reaching the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2021 and the third qualifying round of the same competition in 2022. That season, they had eliminated Floriana with a 1-0 aggregate score in the first round. Last season, they made it to th eleague phase of the UEFA Conference League, placing 36th with two points from six matches. They had entered the UEFA Champions League, eliminating Ordabasy of Kazakhstan but were then eliminated by APOEL of Cyprus. In the UEFA Europa League, they eliminated The New Saints of Wales but in the play-off round, lost to Ludogorets Razgrad to tenter the UEFA Conference League.
Meanwhile Hibernians will enter the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. The draws will be held on Wednesday.
2025/26 UEFA Conference League first qualifying round draw
NSÍ Runavík (FRO) vs HJK Helsinki (FIN)
FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) vs FC Ordabasy (KAZ)
FK Željezničar (BIH) vs FC Koper (SVN)
SJK Seinäjoki (FIN) vs KÍ Klaksvík (FRO)
Nõmme Kalju FC (EST) vs FK Partizani (ALB)
SS Tre Fiori FC (SMR) vs FC Pyunik (ARM)
St. Patrick’s Athletic (IRL) vs FC Hegelmann (LTU)
FK Dečić (MNE) vs FK Sileks (MKD)
FK Sutjeska-Nikšić (MNE) vs FC Dynamo Brest (BLR)
Larne FC (NIR) vs FK Auda (LVA)
Floriana FC (MLT) vs Haverfordwest County AFC (WAL)
FC Torpedo-Belaz (BLR) vs FK Rabotnicki (MKD)
FCB Magpies (GIB) vs Paide Linnameeskond (EST)
Birkirkara FC (MLT) vs FC Petrocub (MDA)
Atlètic Club d’Escaldes (AND) vs F91 Diddeleng (LUX)
Valur (ISL) vs FC Flora Tallinn (EST)
FC Malisheva (KOS) vs Víkingur Reykjavík (ISL)
Racing FC Union Luxembourg (LUX) vs FC Dila Gori (GEO)
KF Vllaznia (ALB) vs BFC Daugavpils (LVA)
FC Urartu (ARM) vs FC Neman Grodno (BLR)
La Fiorita 1967 (SMR) vs FK Vardar (MKD)
FK Kauno Žalgiris (LTU) vs Penybont FC (WAL)
St Joseph’s FC (GIB) vs Cliftonville FC (NIR)
FK Borac (BIH) vs FC Santa Coloma (AND)