Swieqi United, Haley Bugeja’s Inter await UEFA Women’s Champions League draws

Swieqi United and Haley Bugeja’s Inter will discover their potential opponents on Tuesday in the UEFA Women’s Champions League draws.

Maltese champions Swieqi United are making their debut in the competition, entering in the first qualifying round. This stage is played as a mini-tournament comprising a semi-final on July 30 and a final on August 2. Only the group winners advance to Round 2, while all other teams are eliminated from European competition.

Meanwhile, Haley Bugeja’s Inter will join the tournament in the second qualifying round thanks to Italy’s higher UEFA ranking. They will also participate in a mini-tournament, scheduled between August 27 and 30. In this round, only the winners progress to Round 3. However, teams finishing second or third will still have a chance to remain in European competition.

From the second qualifying round onwards, the newly-launched UEFA Women’s Europa Cup offers a lifeline. Second-placed teams will drop into the second qualifying round of the Europa Cup, while third-placed teams enter from the first round. The draws for this competition will take place on August 31.

This season marks the beginning of a new era for the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The 2025/26 edition introduces an expanded format, replacing the traditional group stage with an 18-team league phase. The Champions League final will be hosted in Oslo, Norway, while the Europa Cup final will be played over two legs, with each finalist hosting one leg.

Swieqi United – Possible First Round Opponents

• Racing FC Union Luxembourg (LUX)
• Tallinna FC Flora (EST)
• Kiryat Gat (ISR)
• Lanchkhuti (GEO)
• Agarista CSF Anenii Noi 2020 (MDA)
• NSA Sofia (BUL)
• Mitrovica (KOS)
• Spartak Myjava (SVK)
• Ljuboten (MKD)
• Agram (CRO)
• Cardiff City (WAL)
• Ankara BB Fomget (TUR)
• AEK Athens (GRE)
• Athlone Town (IRL)
• Riga FC (LVA)
• Budućnost (MNE)
• Cliftonville (NIR)
• Pyunik (ARM)
• Neftçi (AZE)
• NSÍ Runavík (FRO)

Teams Joining Inter in Round Two

Among the clubs entering the second qualifying round alongside Inter are some of Europe’s most established teams, including Manchester United (England), Roma (Italy), Sparta Prague (Czech Republic), Glasgow City (Scotland), and PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands).