On July 23, 2026, Pafos FC suffered a 2-0 away defeat against Hajduk Split during the first leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round at the Poljud Stadium in Croatia. The match remained scoreless until the 56th minute, when Sego opened the scoring with a direct free kick. Nine minutes later, Melnjak doubled the lead for the hosts, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Despite a resilient defensive performance in the first half and notable efforts from individual players like Zaza, the Cypriot team failed to convert their opportunities and eventually lost momentum.

Following the match, Pafos FC head coach Ricardo Sa Pinto acknowledged the team's lack of clinical finishing and focus during the critical ten-minute interval. The result leaves the Cypriot club with a significant deficit to overcome in the return leg. The team is now preparing for the decisive rematch scheduled for July 30, 2026, at 20:00 at the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol. Tickets for the game are already on sale as the club looks to mobilize its supporters for a potential comeback. Should they fail to advance in the Europa League, the club will transition to the Conference League qualifiers against Dinamo Tbilisi.