Contrasting routes see Ajax and FC Twente into Conference League group stage

Ajax and FC Twente have both emerged from the Conference League qualifying rounds, but their routes diverged sharply: Ajax fought through play‑offs, while Twente earned automatic entry after finishing fourth in the Eredivisie. The recent update confirms both Dutch sides now face the competition phase of Europe’s third‑tier tournament.

Recent qualification update

Update: 1min – the latest bulletin Ajax and FC Twente have each survived their preliminary ties. This success guarantees their participation in the group stage of the Conference League.

Paths to the Conference League

Twente secured a place in the Conference League qualifying round by finishing fourth in the Eredivisie last season, granting automatic entry. Ajax, by contrast, had to win a domestic play‑off to reach the same stage, and succeeded in doing so. Both clubs then navigated the two‑legged qualifiers to earn their spots.

The competition phase will feature 36 clubs split into six pots, with each club drawing one opponent from every pot. This pot system mirrors that used in the Champions League, ensuring a wide variety of possible match‑ups across Europe. It is a standard feature of the Europese competition format.

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Potential opponents listed for the Dutch clubs include Atalanta Bergamo (Ita), Brighton & Hove Albion (Eng), FC Midtjylland (Den), Rode Ster Belgrado (Ser), Borac Banja Luka (Bos), Lincoln Red Imps (Gib), Universitatea Craiova (Roe), FC Nordsjaelland (Den), Inter Club d'Escaldes (And) and Kauno Zalgiris (Lit). The presence of clubs from Italy, England, Denmark, Serbia, Bosnia, Gibraltar, Romania, Andorra and Lithuania illustrates the tournament’s diverse field.

The draw that determines each club’s group opponents is scheduled for Friday 28 August. Once the pots are drawn, Ajax and Twente will know the exact teams they will face in the group stage.

Both Ajax and FC Twente are set to kick off their Conference League campaigns on 15 October, marking the start of their European journeys for the season.