The road to European football just got a little clearer for two Dutch clubs. Ajax and FC Twente now know who they could be up against in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League and UEFA Europa League, respectively, after the draw was conducted in Nyon, Switzerland. The two clubs are heading in different directions this summer — one trying to rebuild, the other riding genuine momentum.
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Dutch Clubs Set for Contrasting European Journeys
Both ties are scheduled to begin on 23 July, with return legs on 30 July. Ajax will travel away first before welcoming their opponents to Amsterdam a week later. Twente, on the other hand, get the luxury of starting at home before heading out for the second leg.
Their actual opponents depend on what happens between Serbian side FK Vojvodina and Hungarian club Ferencváros in the opening Europa League qualifying round. Those two legs are set for 9 and 16 July, with the first match taking place at the Karađorđe Stadium in Novi Sad, Serbia. Twente will take on whichever side wins that tie, while Ajax steps in against the losing team.
For Ajax, 23 July carries extra significance. It will mark the first competitive game under new head coach Míchel, who joined the Amsterdam club in June 2026 after his stint at Girona. He inherits a side that badly underperformed last season, finishing fifth in the Eredivisie with just 56 points — their lowest league return since 1962.
Ajax only secured European football at all by defeating FC Utrecht on penalties in the playoff final. It was a hard way to get here, and Míchel will be eager to make an early statement.
Twente's Rise Meets European Ambition
FC Twente arrive at this stage in a completely different headspace.
They clinched fourth place in the Eredivisie after a str.
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