Motherwell have been handed a potential Conference League tie against either HJK Helsinki or Coleraine in the third qualifying round after seeing off Faroese side Havnar Boltfelag in the previous round.
The Steelmen, sitting fourth in the Scottish Premiership with 54 points from 33 games, secured their place in the next stage with a 2-0 win over Havnar Boltfelag on 18 July 2026. Victory there means Motherwell now face a single-leg tie against the winners of the HJK Helsinki vs Coleraine clash.
What happened in the draw?
The third qualifying round draw for the UEFA Conference League was held on 20 July 2026, and Motherwell’s potential opponents are now clear. If they see off their next adversary, they’ll face either the Finnish champions HJK Helsinki or the Northern Irish side Coleraine in the play-off round.
Motherwell’s last result before the draw was a heavy 4-0 loss to Aarhus on 5 July 2026, a setback that left them with just two wins from their last five matches. Their recent form reads LWWLL, with the most recent defeat coming against a side sitting 16 points clear at the top of the Premiership.
Why it matters for Motherwell
A Conference League run offers Motherwell a chance to compete on the European stage once more. The club last featured in European competition in the 2025-26 season, when they exited in the second qualifying round. A deep run this time could bring financial and competitive benefits, especially with the Steelmen currently 16 points behind league leaders Heart of Midlothian.
With 52 goals scored and 29 conceded this season, Motherwell have shown they can attack-but their defence has leaked too many at the wrong moments. A clean sheet in the next round would go a long way toward turning their recent LWWLL run around.
What comes next?
Motherwell’s next step is to book their place in the play-off round by overcoming their third qualifying round opponent. The tie is scheduled for early August, with the exact dates to be confirmed closer to the draw.
If they progress, the Steelmen would face a play-off round clash that could set up a Europa League group-stage berth. Failure to advance would mean dropping into the Europa Conference League proper, where Motherwell would still have a route to the group stages.
The club’s focus now turns to preparing for a tough European assignment, with manager John Tudor tasked with rallying his squad after a rocky end to the domestic campaign. The Steelmen sit fourth, but with 14 wins, 12 draws, and seven losses from 33 games, they’re still in the hunt for a top-three finish-and European football beyond next season.
