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Wrexham Women are set to make history next month as they prepare to play the club's first-ever UEFA Women's Champions League fixture.
The Red Dragons already boast a distinguished European heritage through their men's team, which participated eight times in the former European Cup Winners' Cup between 1972 and 1995.
Now, three decades on, Wrexham will return to continental competition as the women's side enters the first qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Champions League.
It represents the opening step of a lengthy qualification journey, with Jenny Sugarman's squad entering as the lowest-ranked club according to UEFA coefficient standings.
Here's everything you need to know about Wrexham's draw and their potential pathway to the league phase.
Who Will Wrexham Face in the Champions League?
Wrexham Women will take on Armenian champions Pyunik in the semifinal of the first qualifying round. The winner of that clash will then face the victor of the other Group 3 semifinal between Northern Ireland's Glentoran and Latvian outfit Riga.
Every match will be played as a single-leg fixture, with the winner of the four-team mini-tournament progressing to the second qualifying round. That stage will similarly be contested as a four-team mini-tournament, with the winner moving on to the third qualifying round.
Should Wrexham advance from the first qualifying round, they will be placed in Group 7 for the second qualifying round, where they would face Danish club HB Køge in the semifinal and then either Lithuanian side Gintra or Scottish club Hearts in the final.
The winners of the nine third-round qualifying ties will join the nine clubs that earn direct entry to the league phase. Unlike the opening two rounds, the third qualifying round is contested as a conventional two-legged knockout tie.
European powerhouses such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea will enter the competition at the third qualifying round this season. However, since Wrexham are competing via the Champions Path, the toughest possible opponent they could encounter at that stage would be Czech champions Sparta Prague.
Round | Opposition |
|---|---|
First qualification round semi-final | Pyunik |
First qualification round final | Glentoran or Riga |
Second qualification round semi-final | HB Køge |
Second qualification round final | Gintra or Hearts |
Third qualification round first leg | TBC |
Third qualification round second leg | TBC |
When Will Wrexham Play in the Champions League?
Wrexham Women will face Pyunik in the first qualifying round semifinal on Wednesday, July 22. The other Group 3 semifinal between Glentoran and Riga will also take place that day, with one of the four clubs serving as host for the entire mini-tournament.
The first qualifying round final is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, with the winner progressing to the second qualifying round. The two defeated semifinalists will also meet in a third-place playoff on the same day, with the outcome contributing to UEFA coefficient rankings.
The second qualifying round semifinals are set for Wednesday, Aug. 5. As in the previous round, both the third-place playoff and the final will be held three days later on Saturday, Aug. 8, with one of the four clubs hosting the full mini-tournament.
Should Wrexham reach the third qualifying round, they would host the first leg on Wednesday, Aug. 26, before heading away for the second leg on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
The draw for the league phase is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4, with the opening matchday set for Tuesday, Sept. 22, and Wednesday, Sept. 23.
How Can Wrexham Qualify for the Europa Cup?
If Wrexham fail to qualify for the Champions League proper, the club could still secure a berth in the UEFA Women's Europa Cup.
The Europa Cup is UEFA's secondary women's club competition and will be staged for only the second time this season. Unlike the Champions League, it operates as a straight knockout tournament, with every round—including the final—played over two legs.
The Europa Cup winner earns automatic entry into the third qualifying round of the 2027–28 UEFA Women's Champions League.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
To qualify for the competition, Wrexham would need to reach the Champions League second qualifying round mini-tournament. While the group winner advances to the Champions League third qualifying round, the runner-up enters the Europa Cup second qualifying round, and the third-place finisher drops into the Europa Cup first qualifying round.
Unlike the opening stages of the Champions League, Europa Cup qualifying rounds are played as traditional home-and-away ties rather than mini-tournaments.