The lowdown on our potential UEFA Conference League opponents

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Albion will face either Tromso or CFR Cluj over two legs later this month.

Bruce Talbot

2026-08-04T07:00+01:00

Albion could face the northern most professional club in Europe for a place in the group stages of the UEFA Conference League.

Monday’s play-off draw paired Albion with CFR Cluj, from Romania, or Tromso - which is situated 217 miles inside the Arctic Circle.

The first leg of their third qualifying round tie takes place in Cluj, a city 275 miles north west of the Romanian capital Bucharest on Thursday (6 August) with the second leg in northern Norway a week later.

The winners then face Albion at home on 20 August with the second leg at the Amex a week later.

A bit about Tromso…

Tromso dropped into the Conference League after losing 4-1 on aggregate to Czech Republic side Hradec Kralove in the Europa League second qualifying round.

Coached by 36-year-old Jorgen Vik, who joined the club as an assistant coach in 2021 before stepping up to head coach in 2024, they finished third in the 16-club Norwegian Eliteserien last season.

They play home games at the 6,691-capacity Romssa Arena which has an artificial pitch.

The Eliteserien started in April and Tromso are currently third after 16 of their 30 games, four points behind leaders Bodo/Glimt. In their most recent game on Sunday they won 6-2 at Aalesund. Leading scorer in the league is seven-goal Heine Larsen.

A bit about CFR Cluj…

CFR was founded in 1907 by railway workers when Cluj was part of Austria-Hungary.

Eight times winners of the league title in Romania, they have regularly competed in Europe in recent years and their record of ten points in the Champions League group stage in 2012, when they defeated Manchester United, remains a record for a Romanian club.

They were managed by former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu between 2017-22 and last season competed in the Europa League, losing on aggregate to SC Braga, of Portugal, in the third qualifying round. Dropping into the Conference League, they were beaten 7-3 on aggregate by Swedish side Hacken.

Since 1973, Cluj have played their home games at the 23,500-capacity Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Stadium.

Portuguese coach António Folha took over in June on a one-year contract and Cluj currently sit sixth in the league having won one and lost one of their opening two games.

They beat AFC Alashkert of Armenia 4-1 on aggregate to reach this stage of the Conference League.