Five teams eyeing up lucrative European places for next season
By Aaron Behan
As we enter the final nine games of the season, the race for European football next year is well and truly on and an exciting finish is on the cards.
Shamrock Rovers appear set to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League qualifying stage for the 2026/27 season, with Stephen Bradley's side looking like they have an unassailable lead at the top of the table.
There will be a race to the end between Bohemians, Derry City, Drogheda United, Shelbourne, and St. Patrick's Athletic, who will all battle it out for the remaining two UEFA Conference League spots, with a UEFA Europa League spot potentially available via the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup and possibly second place.
League Qualification
The participants of both the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division and the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup will all be fighting for a total four European spots for the 2026/27 campaign.
As usual, the winners of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division will enter the First Qualifying Round of the Champions League and will progress in qualification in that competition with a win or drop down into Europa League and then Conference League qualification rounds with a loss. As is the case with Shelbourne this season, just one win is required in the opening Champions League round to guarantee a play-off match for European competition proper.
Second and third place in the league are then guaranteed a chance to compete in the First Qualifying Round of the Conference League. Unlike the Champions League position, these spots have no safety net in the form of different competitions below them, and teams would have to win three qualification rounds and a play off to guarantee league phase football which Shamrock Rovers are looking to do this season. Second Place could end up in the Europa League if the Champions win the Cup too!
How the League is shaping up
Things are too close to call amidst the race for second and third spot. Just five points separate second place from sixth at the moment, and a good run of form for any side could change the European picture.
Bohemians, Derry City, and Drogheda United are currently separated by just one point, and will of course be looking to avoid any late slip-ups in order to guarantee European football next season. With fourth spot up in the air depending on the results of the Cup, these sides will be engaged in a late battle for second and third spot.
Slightly lower in the table, fifth placed Shelbourne, alongside sixth placed St. Pat’s, will have their eyes set on a late charge towards the top three and into a guaranteed European place. Both teams will aim to build on this season’s European campaign, with Shelbourne still in the running for a Conference League league phase position, and St. Pat’s having lost out to Besiktas 7-3 on aggregate, despite an early fightback in Istanbul from the Saints.
Cup Qualification
Ireland has climbed up the UEFA coefficient rankings recently, largely due to the performances of Stephen Bradley’s side on the European front and impressive performances from Irish sides in recent years. Ireland currently sits at number 31 in the rankings, which makes the winner of the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup eligible for a Europa League First Qualifying Round spot. This, once again, would provide a crucial safety net for the eventual cup winners.
How the Cup is shaping up
The Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup Third Round was played last weekend, and saw some major teams crash out. Bohemians suffered an unexpected loss to Sligo Rovers, and Derry City once again bowed out of the Cup to Drogheda United. St. Pats eased past Shelbourne in a Dublin Derby in Inchicore, giving Pat's a huge leg up on their mid table rivals in the race for Europe.
Shamrock Rovers are set to face Drogheda United in the Quarter-Finals, with the winner of this tie likely to be favourites for the competition outright, alongside St. Pat’s. Should the Cup winner also finish in a European position in the league table, fourth place will also open up for a Conference League First round qualification spot. If the 2025 Champions win the Cup then second will go into the Europa League and third and fourth will go into the Conference League which could see a rare scenario of Bohemians supporters looking for Shamrock Rovers to win the double if they finish second!
It'll be a thrilling ride nonetheless and this Friday's live clash on Virgin Media Two between Drogheda United and St. Patrick's Athletic will help form the story.
