View: Rangers face further hurdle for Euro qualification in 2025 after 'Uncharted' development

Rangers could face problems qualifying for European competition in the future if The New Saints qualify for the league phase of the Europa Conference League.

The Welsh side beat FK Panevezys 3-0 in Lithuania in the first leg of their Europa Conference League playoff on Thursday [22 August].

TNS will become the first Welsh side in history to qualify for the league phase/group stage of European football should they see out their aggregate lead in the return leg on Thursday 29 August.

As SPFL Mediawatch pointed out on X [22 August], the UK UEFA media ranking will be altered in 2025 if they participate in the Conference League proper.

“Weirdly this could actually adversely affect Rangers, Hearts and potentially Killie as the UEFA Media Ranking could be slightly diluted by a Welsh Club qualifying,” the account posted.

“I have no clue as to what % a Welsh club gets as this is uncharted territory. Scotland gets 10% of the UK pool for reference.”

Rangers need to finish higher than second place this season

Philippe Clement has already suffered European heartbreak this season. The Gers will drop down to the Europa League for the second consecutive season after the 2-0 loss to Dynamo Kyiv in Champions League qualifying on 13 August.

Rangers notoriously struggle in the qualification rounds of the Champions League and their path back to Europe’s elite competition will become a more daunting task should TNS qualify for the Conference League.

As no Welsh side has ever qualified for Europe, there is no telling how much of the UK UEFA ranking will be attributed to Wales.

England holds 90 per cent, as Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City have won the Champions League a combined 12 times, not to mention success from English clubs in both the Europa League and Conference League.

The only path to avoid the qualification rounds next season is to beat Celtic to the Scottish Premiership crown this term and that must be the priority for Clement moving forward.

Rangers are still far and away from turning the dream into a reality, but with eight days left until the 30 August transfer deadline, there is still time to improve the side and build a squad capable of challenging Celtic.

Now more than ever, a second-place finish this season could lead to a daunting path to qualifying for UEFA’s elite club competition a year from now. Let’s just hope it does not come to that.

In other Rangers news, Tiago Gouveia issues an update as the Gers hold transfer talks.

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