The start of the 2020-21 Champions’ League and Europa League campaigns is less than a month away, with Wales’ representatives set to learn their fate when the draw for the early rounds takes place on Sunday, 9 August.
Connah’s Quay Nomads, playing in their first Champions’ League campaign, will find out their opponents in the first qualifying round; while Barry Town United and Bala Town will find out their opposition in the Europa League preliminary round.
The qualifying rounds for both competitions will be played in single legs this season rather than home and away ties, with the draw deciding which clubs play at home.
The only exception is the Champions League Play-offs which will remain over two legs.
The Champions’ League first qualifying round takes place on 18-19 August, with the Nomads set to play their home European games at Cardiff City Stadium, should their name come out of the pot first.
The second qualifying round is scheduled for 25-26 August and the third from 15-16 September. Dates for the two-leg play-offs are 22-23 and 29-30 September, with the group stages due to start after 20 October.
The draw for the Champions’ League second qualifying round takes place on 10 August.
The Nomads enter the competition at the same stage as some top European sides including Red Star Belgrade, Legia Warsaw and Maccabi Tel Aviv, but sources suggest there will be a “northern Europe” group of seeded teams that will face unseeded teams from the same region in the first qualifying round.
This could mean Connah’s Quay lining up against Celtic, Swedish side Djurgardens, Molde from Norway, Dundalk from the Republic of Ireland, or Lithuanian champions Suduva Marijampole.
A win would see the Nomads progress to the second qualifying round, while defeat would see them enter the Europa League second qualifying round. The draw for this takes place on Monday, 31 August with the fixture itself taking place on Thursday, 17 September.
The New Saints, who finished runners-up to the Nomads in the Cymru Premier enter the Europa League in the first qualifying round and will learn their opponents on Monday, 10 August.
Both Barry and Bala enter at the preliminary round stage and will learn their fate on 9 August, with the Dragons confirming they will play at Cardiff City Stadium if drawn at home.
All matches are scheduled to be played behind closed doors but the clubs are doing everything possible to see the games broadcast live, either on television or via an internet stream.
Success would see the clubs back in action in the first qualifying phase on 27 August when TNS enter the fray. The second qualifying round is set for 17 September and the third a week later, with the play-offs scheduled for 1 October. The group stage will get underway on 22 October.
Champions League 2020-21
Preliminary round: 8-11 August
First qualifying round: 18-19 August
Second qualifying round: 25-26 August
Third qualifying round: 15-16 September
Play-offs: 22-23 September, 29-30 September
Group stage: 20-21 October, 27-28 October, 3-4 November, 24-25 November, 1-2 December, 8-9 December
Europa League 2020-21
Preliminary round: 20 August
First qualifying round: 27 August
Second qualifying round: 17 September
Third qualifying round: 24 September
Play-offs: 1 October
Group stage: 22 October, 29 October, 5 November, 26 November, 3 December, 10 December
