Heart of Midlothian have been drawn against Sturm Graz in the Champions League second‑qualifying round. A victory sends Hearts into the third round as an unseeded side, where they could meet Lyon, Bodo/Glimt, Olympiacos or the winner of Fenerbahçe v Górnik Zabrze. A loss drops them into the Europa League third‑qualifying stage and keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Should Hearts progress, they remain unseeded and will be placed in the same draw segment as seeded Rangers, mirroring the Europa League path the Scottish giants followed last season. Sturm Graz entered the tie after a 6‑2 aggregate defeat to Bodo/Glimt in last year’s play‑off round, yet they have shown resilience in domestic competition, finishing just two points behind LASK after the championship split.

Hearts now face a test of European mettle; a win secures a place among Europe’s elite, while a defeat forces a detour through the Europa League where they would join Rangers in the unseeded pool. The outcome will shape their season’s revenue prospects and influence the Scottish league’s coefficient for next year and fan engagement across Scotland.