Youths await Thursday's Women's Champions League draw

The UEFA Women’s Champions League draw takes place on Thursday afternoon at 12:30 and Extratime.ie have examined how the draw works and what options are open to Irish debutants Wexford Youths.

The 2015/16 Champions League consists of 56 clubs, with the top 24 clubs from the 15 highest ranking countries receiving a bye into the last 32. The remaining 32 clubs then enter the qualifying round and are divided into eight groups of four which are decided based on a seeded draw.

Prior to Thursday’s draw the following eight clubs have been selected to host qualifying groups; Apollon Limassol LFC (CYP, seeding position 1), FC Twente (NED, 1),PK-35 Vantaa (FIN, 1), WFC SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH, 2), KKPK Medyk Konin (POL, 2), WFC Osijek (CRO, 2) ,WFC Pomurje (SVN, 2), Glentoran Belfast United WFC (NIR, 3). These sides will be drawn from Pot 1 and will be allocated to respective groups according to their seeding.

The side from Pot 2 (seeding position 4), Pot 3 (position 3), Pot 4 (position 2) and Pot 5 (position 1), are then drawn into each group whilst ensuring there is a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th seed in each group. (for example, if FC Twente is drawn in group A the remaining sides will be drawn from Pots 2,3,4)

Pot 2 KS Vllaznia (ALB),Cardiff Met LAFC (WAL), WFC Ekonomist (MNE), ŽFK Dragon 2014 (MKD), CSF Noroc Nimoreni (MDA), Hibernians FC (MLT), Rigas FS (LVA), FC Jeunesse Jonglënster (LUX)

Pot 3 Pärnu JK (EST), KÍ Klaksvík (FRO), FC Minsk (BLR), Ferencvárosi TC (HUN), FC Union Nové Zámky (SVK), Wexford Youths WFC (IRL), CF Benfica (POR)

Pot 4 Stjarnan (ISL), ASA Tel-Aviv University SC (ISR), WFC Kharkiv (UKR), FC NSA Sofia (BUL)

Pot 5 Olimpia UT Cluj-Napoca (ROU), ŽFK Spartak (SRB), Gintra Universitetas (LTU), FC PAOK (GRE), Konak Belediyespor (TUR)

What are the permutations for Wexford Youths?

If Youths are drawn with Apollon Limassol LFC, FC Twente, PK-35 Vantaa the remaining sides will be drawn from pots 4, 2, and 1.

If they are drawn with WFC SFK 2000 Sarajevo, KKPK Medyk Konin, WFC Osijek, WFC Pomurje the remaining side will be drawn from pots 5, 2, and 1.

Wexford Youths cannot be drawn against Glentoran Belfast United WFC as both sides are third seeds, but all other seven hosts are available to the 2015 Women’s National League Champions.

The group fixtures will be played from August 11-16 at the selected venues, with eight group winners joining the 24 sides who received byes in the round of 32 draw which takes place on August 20.

Don't forget this week's Extratime.ie Sportscast, featuring Liam Kearney, Simon Madden, Richie Towell and Collie O'Neill, is available here. You can also listen to the Extratime.ie Sportscast European Special here.