Pafos FC prepares for crucial Europa League qualifier against Salzburg

Pafos FC travels to Austria to face Red Bull Salzburg on August 6, 2026, in the first leg of the Europa League third qualifying round. Following a morale-boosting comeback against Hajduk Split, the Cypriot side aims to secure a competitive result to keep their qualification hopes alive ahead of the return leg scheduled for August 13 at the Alphamega Stadium. Manager Ricardo Sa Pinto confirmed that the team will miss injured players Zaza and Correia, while new signing Moumi Ngamaleu has been registered and is available for selection.

Should Pafos succeed against Salzburg, they will progress to the Europa League play-offs. UEFA's draw has determined that the winner of the Mjallby versus Slovan Bratislava tie will be their next opponent. Currently, Slovan Bratislava holds a 2-1 advantage from the first leg against Mjallby. Conversely, if Pafos is eliminated, they will shift their focus to the Conference League path, where the loser of the Auda versus Dinamo City matchup awaits. The team is currently balancing European ambitions with roster adjustments to maintain competitiveness at this advanced stage of the competition.