FC Astana Set for UEFA Conference League Qualifiers Against Velež Mostar

FC Astana is poised to embark on its 2026/2027 UEFA Conference League qualifying journey, with the draw placing them against Velež Mostar of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first qualifying round. The Kazakh club secured its spot in the competition by finishing as runners-up in the 2025 Kazakhstan Premier League season, setting the stage for another European challenge.

The first leg of the highly anticipated tie against Velež Mostar is scheduled for July 9, 2026, with the decisive second leg to follow a week later on July 16, 2026. These matches mark the initial hurdle for FC Astana as they aim to progress deeper into the continental competition.

Should FC Astana successfully navigate past Velež Mostar, their path in the second qualifying round would lead them to face the winner of the encounter between FC Sheriff Tiraspol from Moldova, NK Aluminij of Slovenia, and FC Dinamo City of Albania. The second qualifying round fixtures are slated for July 23 and July 30, 2026, presenting a challenging but potentially rewarding sequence of matches.

Domestically, FC Astana currently occupies 6th position in the Kazakhstan Premier League as of June 21, 2026. Their recent form in the league has seen a mixed bag of results, including a 2-0 loss against FK AktobeTeam·FK Aktobe on June 21, a 2-0 victory over Irtysh Pavlodar on June 14, and a 1-1 draw with FC Altai Öskemen on May 27. These domestic performances will undoubtedly inform their preparations for the European stage.

The ultimate incentive for participating clubs in the UEFA Conference League is the opportunity to secure an automatic berth in the league phase of the 2027/2028 UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League. This significant prize underscores the importance of each qualifying round, offering a pathway to a higher tier of European football for the eventual champion, provided they have not already qualified through their domestic league performance. As of today, June 24, 2026, no qualifying results are available, as the matches are yet to be played.