AA Gent now knows its opponents for the 2026-2027 UEFA Conference League group stage. The draw on Friday, August 28, 2026, placed the Buffalos in a challenging group with six different clubs, including four domestic champions, as reported by HLN Voetbal. Matches will be played between October and December, with each team facing three home and three away fixtures.
Coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck's side currently sits fifth in the Jupiler Pro League with six points from two games. They have scored four goals and conceded one. The next test is a top-of-the-table clash against leaders Club Brugge on August 30 at the Ghelamco Arena.
Which teams will Gent face in the Conference League?
Gent, which qualified via the play-offs in Scotland, was in pot 2 for the draw. The tournament features six pots. Their opponents are Red Star from Serbia, Brann from Norway, Aarhus from Denmark, Braga from Portugal, KuPS Kuopio from Finland, and Thun from Switzerland. Red Star are the Serbian champions. Aarhus won the title in Denmark. KuPS Kuopio are the Finnish title holders and Thun are the Swiss champions. The matches against Red Star, Brann, and Aarhus will be played at home. The away fixtures are at Braga, KuPS Kuopio, and Thun. Braga's stadium is famous for its location between the rocks.
What does this mean for the European campaign?
It's a varied and strong group for Gent. They will face four teams that won their domestic league last season. This promises a tough group phase. The exact match schedule and kick-off times will be announced by UEFA before next Sunday. Fans can check the planning afterwards on our fixtures page. The club will need to prove itself against established European names and surprising champions.
How is Gent performing in the domestic league?
The European draw comes at a key moment in the season. Gent started strongly in the league with two consecutive wins. They are three points behind Club Brugge, the current leaders. That opponent visits this weekend for a direct showdown. The form is good, which provides confidence for the European challenge. The current league table can be followed via our standings overview.
The coming weeks will be vital for the course of the season. After the top match against Brugge, preparation begins for the European start in October. The squad, which you can view on our squad page, has a difficult but achievable task. The aim is to combine strong league performances with a good European run.
