Hibs in Euro venue switch as plastic pitch decision reached by potential UEFA Conference League opponents
Easter Road side won’t have first game of new season confirmed until week before kick-off
Hibs will NOT have to play their opening competitive fixture of season 2026-27 on a plastic pitch, after potential Euro rivals KF Malisheva decided against hosting the Scots at their quirky home ground. The Easter Road side kick off the new campaign with a UEFA Conference League second qualifying round tie away from home on Thursday, July 23.
David Gray’s men have been drawn against the winners of the first qualifying round tie between Kosovan side Malisheva and Albanian club FK Vllaznia. The pair meet in Shkoder, about an hour and 40 minutes from the Albanian capital of Tirana, for the first leg of their contest on July 9, with the return leg scheduled to take place in Malisheva on July 16.
That second leg of the contest between the near neighbours, situated just 140 miles apart, is officially scheduled to take place at Malisheva’s home ground – the offbeat Stadium Liman Gegaj, which has a seating capacity of just 1800. Although fans attending domestic games there are allowed to perch themselves on a scrubby hillside above the main stand to watch games, there are likely to be restrictions for European games.
Artificial surface allowed by UEFA
The Liman Gegaj also has an artificial surface, which is allowed for all UEFA ties outside of major finals. But the Hibs delegation who travelled to Nyon for last week’s Conference League draw have been told by the Kosovans that, should they reach the second qualifying round for the first time in history, they won’t be asking Gray’s team – or a potentially large travelling support – to visit of the more low-key venues in elite European competition.
The plan is to move the game to the UEFA four-star Fadil Vokri Stadium in the Kosovan capital of Pristina. The home of the national team, it boasts a natural playing surface and a capacity of just under 14,000.
Malisheva are considered outsiders to progress, with FK Vllaznia boasting a lengthy European pedigree – including losing to Dundee almost a quarter of a century ago – and a strong domestic record. Although they’ve never made it past the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, they’re marking their sixth consecutive season in European football.
They’ll definitely play their home games at the Loro Borici Stadium, which was the venue for Scotland’s 4-0 Nations League win over Albania back in November of 2018. The ground, in the city of Shkoder, has a capacity of around 16,000. Crucially, it also boasts a grass pitch.
Late confirmation of opponent
Hibs are making contingency plans to cover for both potential European trips, although they won’t find out their final destination until after the second leg between Vllaznia and Malisheva – just a week before the winners host the Easter Road side. That causes obviously travel issues for supporters trying to book up for the first European trip of the season.
On the football front, Gray’s men returned to pre-season training at East Mains today. They fly to Ireland for a training camp on Sunday, with a friendly against Shamrock Rovers in Dublin scheduled for next Tuesday night – and a closed-doors game against Cliftonville on Saturday week.
Hibs, who are also travelling to Portugal for a mini-camp and bounce game against Portuguese champions Porto over the weekend of July 11, will host Danish club Brondby in a pre-season friendly at Easter Road on Saturday, July 18. They’ll find out the identity of their potential UEFA Conference League THIRD qualifying round opponents in a draw on Monday, July 20 – by which point the team will be preparing for their trip to either Shkoder or Pristina.