Shamrock Rovers’ Conference League opponents confirmed with draw throwing up Hoops trip to Chelsea, Larne and Rapid Vienna

In the league stage of this season’s Conference League, Shamrock Rovers will play Chelsea, Apoel Nicosia, Rapid Vienna, The New Saints, Boruc Banja Luka and Larne.

The latter two clubs are playing league (group) stage football in a UEFA club compeition for the first time.

The draw as made in the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco at lunchtime on Friday with the home and away fixtures for Rovers allocated as below:

Home

Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus)

The New Saints (Wales)

Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina),

Away

Chelsea (England)

Rapid Wien (Austria)

Larne (Northern Ireland)

When will the fixture list be available?

The fixture list will be confirmed by UEFA by Saturday 31 August as a review of the draw results need to take place to ensure no calendar clashes with teams playing in the same cities after yesterday’s Champions League draw and Europa League draw made earlier on Friday.

What are the Conference League matchdays

Matchday 1: October 3, 2024

Matchday 2: October 24, 2024

Matchday 3: November 7, 2024

Matchday 4: November 28, 2024

Matchday 5: December 12, 2024

Matchday 6: December 19, 2024

What are the kick off times?

18:45 CET or 21:00 CET (5.45pm or 8pm Irish time)

How do you qualify for the knock-out stages?

Of the 36 teams in the league stage, 24 teams will advance into the knockout stages in February 2025.

Teams one to eight get a bye and go directly into the round of 16, while ninth to 24^th will go into a series of two legged matches to earn the right to go to the last 16. Teams 25 to 36 will be eliminated.

Will the games be on TV in Ireland?

Yes but on Premier Sports.

Remind me of the money on offer?

For claiming a place in the league stage of the Conference League, it will bring Rovers’ earnings up to a minimum €3.87 million (plus additional five year and ten year rankings UEFA prize money that could add close to another €1 million for Shamrock Rovers).

Prize money for results in the league stage of the Conference League is €400k for a win and €133k for a draw. Progression out of this league stage with qualification for the knockout round of the Conference League earns €200k, with the round of 16 earning €0.8m.

Clubs 1 to 8 in the league ranking of the league phase will receive an additional €400k while clubs 9 to 16 will receive an additional €200k.

Where is the final?

The 2024/25 Conference League season concludes at Stadion Wrocław in Poland. The home of two-time Polish champions Śląsk Wrocław, the venue has a capacity of over 40,000 and is the third biggest stadium in the country.