Hearts reached the 2026/27 Conference League league phase after beating Rapid Vienna on penalties. The league-phase draw in Monaco on August 28 sets opponents, match dates and the route through the competition.
Hearts are into the league phase of the Conference League after a heroic penalty shootout play-off win over Rapid Vienna.
Wouter Vrancken's 10-man Jambos battled brilliantly to draw 2-2 on the night in Austria, 4-4 on aggregate, before a dramatic victory on spot kicks.
It unlocks passage to possibly facing some continental heavyweights alongside a seven-figure cash injection.
# What happened Hearts reached the UEFA Conference League league phase after a play-off tie against Rapid Vienna finished 4-4 on aggregate and was decided on penalties. The win sends Hearts into a six-match league phase and brings a significant financial benefit for the club. Hibs remain in contention to join the competition.
# When and where the draw takes place
# How to watch UEFA will stream the draw for free on its website. Viewers can watch the proceedings live there.
# Who Hearts could face (pots) The draw uses seeded pots. The article lists the confirmed pots and teams that could be drawn alongside Hearts. Hearts are in Pot 4.
Pot 1: Atalanta, Braga, Ajax, Freiburg, Monaco, Copenhagen. Pot 2: Midtjylland, Red Star Belgrade, Gent, Panathinaikos, Pafos, Brighton. Pot 3: Lugano, Getafe, KUPS, Twente, Lincoln Red Imps, Borac. Pot 4: Sint-Truidense V.V, Brann, Hearts, Kairat Almaty, Trabzonspor, CS Universitatea Craiova. (The article notes Trabzonspor with Mo Salah leading their attack.) Pot 5: Riga, Hadjuk Split, Jablonec, FC Nordsjaelland, AGF, Inter Club d'Escaldes. Pot 6: Thun, CSKA Sofia, Kauno Zalgiris, Mjallby, Iberia 1999, Egnatia.
That range means possible opponents include continental regulars (Ajax, Atalanta, Monaco) as well as less familiar sides to Scottish fans.
# Schedule: league phase and knockouts
# Competition format that matters to Hearts Each club in the league phase plays six matches — three home, three away. The top eight teams after the league phase go straight to the round of 16. Clubs finishing ninth to 24th enter a two-legged play-off to reach the round of 16. Teams placed 25th to 36th are eliminated.
# Immediate implications for Hearts and supporters Hearts now know they will play six European fixtures across October to December, with the draw on 28 August determining travel, schedule and the mix of opponents. The club also secures the financial boost that comes with operating in the league phase. Hibs remain a potential Scottish entrant depending on their own results in the qualification path.
# Bottom line Watch the draw on UEFA's website on 28 August to see which combination of the teams listed will make up Hearts' group. The draw sets the six-match domestic-and-Europe calendar through mid-December and lays out the path into February knockouts and beyond.
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