The Hibees are one of 64 teams who will compete for Europe’s top-age group prize. This will be the first time Hibs have played in the UEFA Youth League since the competition began in 2013.
How It Works?
The 64 teams are split into two separate paths; the UEFA Champions League path and the Domestic Champions path, both of which begin in September 2022.
The UEFA Champions League path mirrors the senior UEFA Champions League schedule. The teams and groups are the same as the Champions League draw and will follow the same fixture list.
The second path is the Domestic Champions Path – this is where Hibs are involved. These teams are the domestic champions from the highest ranked entering associations whose senior side have not qualified for the Champions League Group Stage.
As Hibs U18 won the league last year, but the First Team did not finish in a Champions League spot, the wee Hibees will take the Domestic Champions path.
The Domestic Champions path is a straight knockout qualifying route, that involves two rounds before a play-off with a runner-up from each UEFA Champions League Group.
Which Hibees Are Eligible?
The UEFA Youth League is an Under-19 competition. That means anyone born in the year 2004 or later will be eligible for selection.
So, the likes of Jacob Blaney, Josh McCulloch, Oscar MacIntyre, Murray Aiken, Robbie Hamilton, Josh O’Connor, Malik Zaid, Kanayo Megwa and Murray Johnson who were all part of Gareth Evans' U18 league-winning side last year and have since graduated from U18 football - will be eligible for selection.
Key Dates
The Hibees will enter in the First Round of the UEFA Youth League and will play a two-legged tie (home and away). We will find out our First Round opponents when the draw takes place on Wednesday 31 August at 12 noon (GMT).
Round 1 First Leg: 14 September 2022
Round 1 Second Leg: 5 October 2022
If we progress through the first round, then we will play a second-round tie, again drawn at random.
Round 2 First Leg: 26 October 2022
Round 2 Second Leg: 2 November 2022
The winner of the second-round match will then progress to the play-off round where they will meet a runner-up from the UEFA Champions League path.
Play-Offs: 7/8 February 2023
The group winners from the UEFA Champions League path and the eight Play-Off winners will then form the last 16 of the competition, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final which takes place on 24 April, 2023.
Potential Opponents
Here are our potential opponents in the Domestic Champions path:
AZ Alkmaar (NED)
Molde FK (NOR)
AIK (SWE)
Racing FC Union (LUX)
Shamrock Rovers (IRE)
Coleraine FC (NIR)
Podeba (MKD)
