WFC Hajvalia will become Kosovo’s first entry into any UEFA competition and the numbers are also increased by 12 nations (including Scotland) receiving 2 places for the the qualifying round draw on 24 June, 12.30pm UK time.
Holders Lyon, the top two clubs from the 11 highest-ranked countries and the champions of the 12th-ranked nation (Norway) receive byes to the round of 32.
The other 36 entrants (Norwegian runners-up Avaldnses and the champions of the remaining 35 associations) must compete in the qualifying round from 23 to 28 August for nine spots alongside those 23 sides already in the knockout phase, which will be drawn on September 1st.
The qualifying round draw will see one team from each of the four established seeding positions allocated to one of the nine groups.
The hosts for these mimi-tournaments will be: Apollon, Twente, PK-35 Vantaa, SFK 2000 Sarajevo, Medyk Konin, Osijek, Pomurje, Wexford Youths and Cardiff Met.
There are debuts for Avaldsnes, Ramat HaSharon, Newry City, Breznica Pljevija, Criuleni and Hajvalia in the qualifying round, and for Eskilstuna United, Manchester City and Sturm Graz in the Round of 32.
Faroese champions KÍ Klaksvík maintain their unique record of entering all 16 seasons of UEFA women’s competition.
The final will be at Cardiff City FC on June 1st 2017.
Bye to round of 32: Lyon (FRA, holders), Wolfsburg (GER), FC Rosengård (SWE), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Fortuna Hjørring (DEN), Brøndby (DEN), Barcelona (ESP), Rossiyanka (RUS), Glasgow City (SCO), Sparta Praha (CZE), Bayern München (GER), Zvezda-2005 (RUS), Brescia (ITA), Verona (ITA), Slavia Praha (CZE), Chelsea (ENG), Eskilstuna United (SWE), LSK Kvinner (NOR), St. Pölten (AUT), Manchester City (ENG), Athletic Club (ESP), Sturm Graz (AUT), Hibernian (SCO)
Seeding position 1: FC Zürich (SUI), Apollon (CYP), Standard Liège (BEL), FC Twente (NED), Olimpia Cluj (ROU), FK Spartak (SRB), BIIK-Kazygurt (KAZ), PK-35 Vantaa (FIN), SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH)
Seeding position 2: Gintra Universitetas (LTU), Konak Belediyespor (TUR), Medyk Konin (POL), Pomurje (SVN), Osijek (CRO), WFC Kharkiv (UKR), PAOK (GRE), Avaldsnes (NOR), NSA Sofia (BUL)
Seeding position 3: Pärnu (EST), Minsk (BLR), Ferencváros (HUN), Slovak Bratislava (SVK), Wexford Youths (IRL), CF Benfica (POR), Breidablik (IRL), KÍ Klaksvík (FRO), Ramat HaSharon (ISR)
Seeding position 4: KS Vllaznia (ALB), Cardiff Met (WAL), Rigas FS (LVA), Dragon 2014 (MKD), Newry City (NIR), Hibernians (MLT), Breznica Pljevija (MNE), Criuleni (MDA), Hajvalia (KOS).
Source – uefa.com
