Brighton’s Conference League Play-off Draw Confirmed

Brighton have discovered their route into Europe after Monday’s draw in Nyon handed them a Conference League play-off tie against either Cluj or Tromso. The Seagulls will travel to Romania or Norway for the first leg before hosting the return at the Amex on Thursday 27 August, with tickets already on sale.

What the Conference League play-off draw means

Albion were seeded for the tie as ball number four, and their opponents will only be confirmed once Cluj and Tromso settle their own final qualifying round over two legs this week and next. Whoever comes through, the away leg — expected on Thursday 20 August — will be Fabian Hürzeler’s first competitive fixture of the 2026-27 campaign. Aggregate winners seal a place in the league phase, the reward for an eighth-placed Premier League finish that reopened the door to the continent. For the format, our guide to how the Conference League works lays it out, and we have already mapped the eight key dates before their European return.

According to The Argus, Cluj have made a stuttering start under new head coach Antonio Folha, the former Portugal international taking one win and two defeats from his opening three league games. Tromso, by contrast, arrive in form, sitting third in the Norwegian top flight after ten wins and four draws from 16 matches.

For Albion supporters plotting a European away day, the wait goes on: travel plans cannot be finalised until the identity of Brighton’s opponents is known next week. The home date, at least, is locked in.