Champions League qualifying explained: Fixtures, results, state of play, key dates

Six teams will qualify for the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage via qualifying – who's involved, how does it work and when are the games? Allow UEFA.com to explain.

Preliminary round

Teams involved (4)
4 automatic entrants

Draw
The preliminary round draw was made on Tuesday 7 June.

Levadia Tallinn are one of four teams taking part in the preliminary round

Fixtures

21 June
La Fiorita (SMR) 1-2 Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND)
Levadia Tallinn (EST) 1-6 Víkingur Reykjavík (ISL)

24 June
Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND) 0-1 Víkingur Reykjavík (ISL)

How did it work?
The winners of the two semi-finals met in the preliminary round final on Friday 24 June; all games were single-leg fixtures. The winners of the preliminary round final progressed to the first qualifying round.

The other three preliminary round teams transferred to the UEFA Europa Conference League champions path second qualifying round.

First qualifying round

Teams involved (30)
29 automatic entrants
1 preliminary round winner

Draw
The first qualifying round draw was made on Tuesday 14 June.

Fixtures (5/6 & 12/13 July)
Pyunik (ARM) vs CFR Cluj (ROU)
Maribor (SVN) vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR)
Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) vs Sutjeska Nikšić (MNE)
Diddeleng (LUX) vs Tirana (ALB)
Tobol (KAZ) vs Ferencváros (HUN)

Malmö (SWE) vs Víkingur Reykjavík (ISL)
Ballkani (KOS) vs Žalgiris (LIT)
HJK (FIN) vs RFS (LVA)
Bodø/Glimt (NOR) vs KÍ (FRO)
The New Saints (WAL) vs Linfield (NIR)

Shamrock Rovers (IRL) vs Hibernians (MLT)
Lech Poznań (POL) vs Qarabağ (AZE)
Shkupi (MKD) vs Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
Zrinjski (BIH) vs Sheriff (MDA)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs Dinamo Batumi (GEO)

How does it work?
Teams play home and away with the aggregate winners progressing to the second qualifying round champions path; if teams are level after 180 minutes, extra time and penalties will be played. There are no away goals.

Defeated teams transfer to the UEFA Europa Conference League champions path second qualifying round.

Second qualifying round

Teams involved (24)
Champions path (20): 5 automatic entrants, 15 first qualifying round winners
League path (4): 4 automatic entrants

Draw
The second qualifying round draw was made on Wednesday 15 June.

The second qualifying round draw took place on 15 June

Fixtures (19/20 & 26/27 July)
Champions path
Tobol Kostanay (KAZ) / Ferencváros (HUN) vs Slovan Bratislava (SVK) / Dinamo Batumi (GEO)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) vs Shkupi (MKD) / Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
Lech Poznań (POL) / Qarabağ (AZE) vs Zürich (SUI)
HJK (FIN) / RFS (LVA) vs Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
The New Saints (WAL) / Linfield (NIR) vs Bodø/Glimt (NOR) / KÍ (FRO)
Ballkani (KOS) / Žalgiris (LTU) vs Malmö (SWE) / Preliminary round winners
Ludogorets (BUL) / Sutjeska (MNE) vs Shamrock Rovers (IRL) / Hibernians (MLT)
Maribor (SVN) / Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR) vs Zrinjski (BIH) / Sheriff (MDA)
Maccabi Haifa (ISR) vs Olympiacos (GRE)
Pyunik (ARM) / CFR Cluj (ROU) vs Diddeleng (LUX) / Tirana (ALB)

League path
Midtjylland (DEN) vs AEK Larnaca (CYP)
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) vs Fenerbahçe (TUR)

How does it work?
Teams play home and away with the aggregate winners progressing to their respective path of the third qualifying round; if teams are level after 180 minutes, extra time and penalties will be played. There are no away goals.

Defeated teams transfer to the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.

Third qualifying round

Teams involved (20)
Champions path (12): 2 automatic entrants, 10 second qualifying round winners
Apollon Limassol (CYP)
Crvena zvezda (SRB)

League path (8): 6 automatic entrants, 2 second qualifying round winners
Benfica (POR)
Monaco (FRA)
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Rangers (SCO)
Sturm Graz (AUT)
Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)

Draw
To be made on Monday 18 July.

Fixtures
To be confirmed; to be played on 2/3 and 9 August.

How does it work?
Teams play home and away with the aggregate winners progressing to their respective path of the play-offs; if teams are level after 180 minutes, extra time and penalties will be played. There are no away goals.

Defeated teams in the champions path transfer to the UEFA Europa League play-off round; league path losers will line up in the Europa League group stage.

Play-offs

Copenhagen reached last season's Europa Conference League round of 16Getty Images

Teams involved (12)
Champions path (8): 2 automatic entrants, 6 third qualifying round winners
Copenhagen
Trabzonspor

Domestic path (4): 4 third qualifying round winners

Draw
To be made on Tuesday 2 August.

Fixtures
To be confirmed; to be played on 16/17 & 23/24 August.

How does it work?
Teams play home and away with the aggregate winners progressing to the group stage draw on Thursday 25 August. If teams are level after 180 minutes, extra time and penalties will be played. There are no away goals.

All losing sides move into the UEFA Europa League group stage (draw on 26 August).