DINAMO CITY TO FACE ASTANA IN UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE QUALIFIERS

Tirana, June 16, 2026 – FC Dinamo City has discovered its opponent for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. The draw held in Nyon, Switzerland, paired the Albanian side with Kazakhstan’s FC Astana, one of the most experienced clubs in European qualifying competitions.

The first leg will be played on July 9 at the “Selman Stërmasi” Stadium in Tirana, while the return match is scheduled for July 16 at the “Astana Arena”, one of the most modern stadiums in Central Asia.

For Dinamo City, this draw presents a major challenge, but certainly not an impossible one. Astana is widely regarded as the most successful club in Kazakh football over the last decade, having won seven league titles and built an impressive reputation in European competitions.

The Kazakh side has been a regular participant in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League. In 2015, Astana became the first club from Kazakhstan to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage, earning memorable results against Atletico Madrid, Benfica, and Galatasaray.

For Albanian football fans, Astana is not an unfamiliar name. During the 2023-24 UEFA Europa Conference League play-offs, the Kazakh club eliminated Partizani Tirana with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

The first leg in Astana ended in a 1-0 win for the home side, while the return leg in Albania finished 1-1. Interestingly, Astana played that second-leg match at the very same stadium where they will face Dinamo City next month – the “Selman Stërmasi” Stadium.

Astana’s European experience, higher UEFA coefficient, and strong home record make them favorites on paper. However, Dinamo City will aim to make the most of the first leg in Tirana and secure a positive result before the difficult trip to Kazakhstan.

One of Astana’s biggest advantages is the long journey visiting teams must undertake, along with the unique climate conditions and the artificial turf at the Astana Arena, factors that have often troubled European opponents.

The winner of this tie will advance to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, with the next-round draw set to take place later this week.

For Dinamo City, this represents a golden opportunity to showcase Albanian football on the European stage and write a new chapter in the club’s history.