The UEFA Conference League 2025/26 league phase kicks off on October 2, 2025, lighting up stadiums across Europe with 18 fixtures marking the start of a fresh, expanded 36-team format. Softfootball understands that every single team earned its spot the hard way through qualifiers, except Crystal Palace, who were demoted from the Europa League due to their owners having stakes in Lyon, who are also participating in Europe, and all these dramas make this season one of the most fiercely contested yet.
Under the new setup, the top eight teams after eight matchdays will march straight into the Round of 16, while those finishing 9th to 24th will battle through a tense two-legged playoff. No freebies, no passengers, just pure football grit.
Key Games From Round One
Dynamo Kyiv vs Crystal Palace
It’s a first European night for Crystal Palace, who finally step into continental football after years of waiting. They face a familiar name in Dynamo Kyiv, though circumstances have changed. Due to ongoing conflict, the Ukrainian side will host this opener on neutral ground in Poland, definately not the homecoming they would have wished for.
Still, Dynamo aren’t rolling over. The Blue and Whites, have avoided defeat in six straight matches (W3, D3). But Palace come into this buzzing. The Eagles are unbeaten in 18 matches across all competitions, a joint club record. Fresh from a late win over Liverpool, morale is sky-high. Manager Oliver Glasner, no stranger to continental success, knows exactly how to keep that fire burning, after all, he guided Frankfurt to Europa League glory just a few years back.
Crystal Palace Official starting XI vs Kyiv as uploaded on the team’s official X account:
Statistically, though, English teams have been a nightmare for Dynamo (W5, D9, L16). Palace will look to extend that dominance and maybe write a new chapter in their European story.
Aberdeen vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Over in Scotland, Aberdeen welcome Shakhtar Donetsk in what could be a reality check for the struggling Dons. Without a league win and still searching for rhythm, they’ll need more than home advantage to stop a Shakhtar side that’s flying at the moment.
The Ukrainian champions have won six of their last eight matches and come armed with experience two Europa League semi-final runs in the last decade. Head coach Arda Turan, brimming with confidence, suggested his team is “ready to show what top-level football looks like” in Europe’s youngest competition.
Aberdeen, on the other hand, have gone seven games without a win, and without their suspended defender Alexander Jensen, it’s hard to picture them holding off Shakhtar’s attacking firepower for long.
Fiorentina vs Sigma Olomouc
For Fiorentina, the Conference League has become a familiar refuge. Despite a rough domestic start, La Viola aim to use this opener against Sigma Olomouc to steady the ship. The Italians have reached at least the semi-final in each of the last three editions, a testament to how seriously they take this competition.
Sigma, back in Europe after seven years, are underdogs. Their recent cup elimination to a fourth-tier side tells the story of a team still finding balance. And against a wounded Fiorentina, they’ll need more than luck to survive the night.
Elsewhere, Legia Warsaw vs Samsunspor brings a nostalgic touch — a rematch of their 1998 Intertoto Cup tie. Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano host Shkëndija in Madrid, banking on their fiery home support to get off to a flyer.
Here’s the full Matchday 1 lineup:
- Dynamo Kyiv vs Crystal Palace
- Lausanne-Sport vs Breiðablik
- Noah vs Rijeka
- Zrinjski Mostar vs Lincoln Red Imps
- Jagiellonia Białystok vs Hamrun Spartans
- Lech Poznań vs Rapid Wien
- KuPS vs Drita
- Omonia vs Mainz 05
- Rayo Vallecano vs Shkëndija
- Aberdeen vs Shakhtar Donetsk
- Sparta Prague vs Shamrock Rovers
- Fiorentina vs Sigma Olomouc
- AEK Larnaca vs AZ
- Legia Warsaw vs Samsunspor
- Celje vs AEK Athens
- Raków Częstochowa vs Universitatea Craiova
- Shelbourne vs BK Häcken
- Slovan Bratislava vs Strasbourg
