Larne opens its European journey on 7 July with an away tie against Tre Fiori in San Marino, before hosting the return leg the next week. The San Marino champions, fresh from a title win, have shed 11 players and added eight new signings, setting a tense stage for Larne.

Coleraine secured a spot in the Conference League for the first time since 2018 after finishing second in the league and winning the Irish Cup. The side will test Finnish side HJK Helsinki in the second qualifying round. New arrivals Conor McMenamin and Jay Henderson bring international experience, while Ben Doherty’s European nights add depth. HJK tops the Veikkausliiga and has already scored the second‑highest tally this season.

Linfield entered Europe last year via the play‑offs, but a late own goal by Jimmy Callacher against RFS in 2022 cost them a group‑stage berth. This season they face Estonia’s Nomme Kalju FC in the first qualifying round, with the first leg at home on 9 July. Nomme Kalju sit third in the Estonian league and have won only one of their last six matches.

The three clubs’ paths illustrate the stakes: Larne drops into the Conference League if defeated, Coleraine faces a tough underdog challenge, and Linfield must overcome a struggling Estonian side to chase the elusive group‑stage spot. Each victory could write a new chapter in Irish football history.