AS Monaco is poised for a significant European challenge, as the club prepares to enter the UEFA Conference League Play-Offs. The draw, conducted on August 3, 2026, confirmed that the Monegasque side will face the loser of the UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League Third Qualifying Round tie between Hungarian powerhouse Ferencváros and Polish outfit Górnik ZabrzeTeam·Górnik Zabrze.
This pivotal play-off round will determine which team secures a coveted spot in the league stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League. The two-legged encounter for AS Monaco is scheduled for August 20 and August 27, 2026, with the specific opponent to be decided after the second leg of the Ferencváros versus Górnik ZabrzeTeam·Górnik Zabrze Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League qualifier on August 13.
AS Monaco earned its place in the Conference LeagueCompetition·Conference League play-offs by finishing 7th in France's Ligue 1Competition·Ligue 1 during the 2025/26 season. Their domestic campaign concluded with a record of 16 wins, 6 draws, and 12 losses, culminating in a 5-4 defeat to StrasbourgTeam·Strasbourg on May 17, 2026. Their qualification was secured following LensTeam·Lens' victory in the Coupe de France, which opened up an additional European slot.
Both potential opponents arrive with strong domestic credentials from the 2025/26 season. Ferencváros finished 2nd in Hungary's Nemzeti Bajnokság ICompetition·Nemzeti Bajnokság I with 68 points and also claimed the Hungarian Cup. Their European journey began in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, where they were eliminated by Qarabağ in the play-off round, subsequently transferring to the UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League.
Górnik ZabrzeTeam·Górnik Zabrze, meanwhile, secured 2nd place in Poland's Ekstraklasa with 56 points and were the winners of the Polish Cup. Their strong domestic performance also granted them a berth in European qualifiers, leading them to their current Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League clash with Ferencváros.
As the European season approaches its competitive phase, AS Monaco is fine-tuning its preparations with a series of pre-season fixtures. The club is set to face GetafeTeam·Getafe on August 7, LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool on August 9, and Coventry on August 14, providing crucial match practice before their Conference LeagueCompetition·Conference League play-off debut.
The stakes are high for all three clubs. The team that emerges victorious from the play-off tie will not only advance to the Conference LeagueCompetition·Conference League league stage but will also keep alive the prospect of further European progression. The eventual winners of the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League are granted automatic qualification for the 2027/28 UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League league phase, provided they do not qualify for the Champions League or Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League through their domestic league performance. This pathway underscores the significance of these upcoming fixtures for MonacoTeam·Monaco's European ambitions.
AS Monaco's Vanderson in action during a pre-season friendly. PsnewZ/IMAGO
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