“FS Jelgava U19” to face Iceland’s KA Akureyri in UEFA Youth League first round
Foto: Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
At the UEFA Youth League draw in Nyon, Switzerland, it was confirmed that FS Jelgava U19 will face Icelandic side KA Akureyri in the first round. The opening match will take place at the Janis Lusis Stadium in Jelgava.
On Monday, September 1, the UEFA Youth League draw was held at the organization’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. It determined that FS Jelgava U19 will meet Iceland’s KA Akureyri (Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar) in the first round.
Jelgava earned the right to participate in this prestigious competition by becoming Latvian U18 Youth Championship winners in 2024. This will be the club’s second appearance in the UEFA Youth League – their debut came in 2022 against MTK Budapest of Hungary, where they were eliminated in the first round with a 0–4 aggregate defeat.
The first leg against KA Akureyri will be played at the Janis Lusis Stadium, Zemgale Olympic Center (Kronvalda Street 24, Jelgava). The exact date and time will be confirmed on September 5 after coordination between the clubs. Provisionally, the matches are scheduled as follows:
First leg in Jelgava – between September 16–18
Second leg in Iceland – between September 30 and October 2
Head coach Valerijs Redjko commented after the draw:
“Out of all possible options, we got the most distant opponent, but this will only create a bigger festive feeling for the boys. I’ve played in Iceland before against Breiðablik UBK, so the trip won’t be a complete surprise. Our staff will now begin opponent analysis, while the players will continue preparations both for UEFA fixtures and the domestic league.”
KA Akureyri represents a multi-sport club from the town of Akureyri, the fifth-largest city in Iceland with around 20,000 inhabitants. The club is well known for its strong women’s football team and men’s hockey side, and will now be represented on the European stage by its youth football squad.
