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Unseeded Hearts Enter Champions League Qualifiers, June Draw

5/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Hearts will enter the UEFA Champions League second-round qualifiers.
Unseeded Hearts, who may face Bodo/Glimt, Olympiacos or Fenerbahçe, must win three ties to reach the group stage, with a second-round loss sending them to the Europa League third round.
The draw is on June 17, with first-leg matches July 21/22 and second-leg July 28/29, while twenty years ago Hearts beat Siroki Brijeg 3-0 before losing 5-1 to AEK Athens and entering the UEFA Cup.

History

Historical Context

Heart of Midlothian first entered European competition in 1958, becoming Scotland’s third representative. In the 2003-04 UEFA Cup the unseeded side beat Siroki Brijeg and fell to AEK Athens, a pattern echoed by the July 2024 play-off draw that again pits Hearts against seasoned clubs such as Olympiacos. The repeat highlights the enduring financial stakes for Scottish clubs in UEFA tournaments.

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Story summary

Hearts will enter the UEFA Champions League second-round qualifiers.
Unseeded Hearts, who may face Bodo/Glimt, Olympiacos or Fenerbahçe, must win three ties to reach the group stage, with a second-round loss sending them to the Europa League third round.
The draw is on June 17, with first-leg matches July 21/22 and second-leg July 28/29, while twenty years ago Hearts beat Siroki Brijeg 3-0 before losing 5-1 to AEK Athens and entering the UEFA Cup.

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