The identity of Heart of Midlothian's opponents in the Europa League play-off round has been narrowed down further.

This morning UEFA released the seedings and groupings for the draw which will take place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, later today.

Hearts are, as expected, unseeded and will face one of the following teams

  • Winners of Braga/Servette

  • Winners of Molde/Cercle Brugge

  • Winners of Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih/Viktoria Plzen

  • Losers of Midtjylland/Ferencvaros

Three of the four ties are being played in the Europa League third qualifying round while the other one is being played in the Champions League third round qualifying Champions Path.

There are a few familiar teams with Braga, who face Swiss side Servette, and Hungarian champions Ferencvaros previous European opponents in 2004. Hearts defeated Braga to progress into the five-team UEFA Cup group.

Cercle Brugge defeated Kilmarnock in the second qualifying round.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian outfit Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih are playing their home tie against Czech side Viktoria Plzen in Slovakia.

About the draw

Prior to the draw, as above, UEFA as split it into three groupings. Hearts are in group 3 which likely means they will be one of the last teams to be drawn out.

When it comes to the draw, there will be three bowls. One with the seeds from the particular grouping, one with the teams that are unseeded and an empty bowl.

As per UEFA: "One ball is then taken from each of these bowls and placed in the third empty central bowl, where they are shuffled. The first team and/or pairing then drawn from this bowl is considered the home team for the first leg of the first tie, which they will play against the second team and/or pairing drawn."

While the first team drawn is considered to be at home for the first leg there are instances where it could change. For example, if two teams in European competition are both scheduled to be at home but share the same stadium or two teams are within a 50km radius are playing at the same time and the association doesn't want that to clash.

When Hearts were last in the Europa League play-off round draw they experienced a team having to change stadium. Due to a concert at their stadium, FC Zurich had to move the game to St Gallen.

UEFA states: "Any changes of date and fixture reversals will be communicated in writing to the clubs and their respective associations today, 5 August 2024 by 18.00 CET (5pm UK)".

Kick-off times for the matches will be announced by Friday, August 9.