Conference League – path to groups begins! Romania’s top football clubs are set to face off against European opponents in the Conference League‘s second qualifying round.
CFR Cluj, the current Romanian champions, will face the winner of the tie between Armenian side Alashkert and Kazakhstani outfit Yelimay Semey. The first leg will be played in Armenia or Kazakhstan, with the return match taking place in Cluj-Napoca.
FCSB, the Bucharest-based powerhouse, has been drawn against Latvian side FK Auda, who finished third in their domestic league last season. Auda has won the Latvian Cup twice in recent years, and their relatively modest squad has a combined value of just €4.45 million, according to Transfermarkt. In contrast, FCSB’s squad is worth a staggering €31.3 million. The first leg will be played in Bucharest, with the return match taking place in Riga, Latvia.
Universitatea Craiova, the other Romanian representative, would face the loser of the tie between Kazakhstani champions Kairat Almaty and Montenegrin side Sutjeska Niksic, should they defeat Belarusian side Vitebsk in the first qualifying round. The first leg would be played in Craiova, with the return match taking place in Kazakhstan or Montenegro.
U Cluj, the runners-up in Romania last season, would face Norwegian side SK Brann, who finished fourth in the Norwegian league in 2025, should they defeat Ukrainian side Dinamo Kiev in the first qualifying round. The first leg would be played in Romania, with the return match taking place in Bergen, Norway.
Conference League Dreaming: Romanian Clubs Face European Opposition
The Challenges Ahead
Romania’s top clubs will be put to the test as they face off against European opponents in the Conference League’s second qualifying round. CFR Cluj, the current champions, will face the winner of the tie between Alashkert and Yelimay Semey, while FCSB will take on FK Auda. Universitatea Craiova would face the loser of the tie between Kairat Almaty and Sutjeska Niksic, should they defeat Vitebsk in the first qualifying round. U Cluj would face SK Brann, should they defeat Dinamo Kiev in the first qualifying round.
The Road to the Conference League
The Conference League is the second-tier European club competition, and the second qualifying round marks an important milestone in the road to the group stages. The Romanian clubs will be looking to make a statement and progress to the next round, but they will face stiff opposition from European teams that have been competing at a high level for years.
The Romanian Perspective
Romania’s top clubs have been competing at a high level in recent years, and they will be looking to make a positive impact in the Conference League. The clubs will be looking to attract new fans and investors, and a strong performance in the Conference League could be a major boost for the Romanian football scene.
The Conference League may not have the same prestige as the Champions League, but it is an important competition that allows European clubs to test themselves against each other. Romania’s top clubs will be looking to make a statement and progress to the next round, but they will face stiff opposition from European teams that have been competing at a high level for years. The road to the Conference League is a challenging one, but the Romanian clubs are ready to take on the European opposition.
Romania’s top clubs will be looking to make a positive impact in the Conference League, and a strong performance could be a major boost for the Romanian football scene. The clubs will be looking to attract new fans and investors, and a successful campaign in the Conference League could be a major step towards establishing Romania as a major force in European football.
As the Romanian clubs face off against European opponents, one thing is clear: the Conference League will be a challenging but rewarding competition for the Romanian teams.