Valletta were drawn to meet FC Lusitans of Andorra in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League next month.
Meanwhile, Hibernians, Birkirkara and Floriana face a very tough hurdle in the first qualifying round of the Europa league, having been drawn against Sarajevo of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Metalurg Skopje of Macedonia and IF Elfsborg of Sweden.
The draws, made yesterday by UEFA in Nyon, will see Valletta playing at home first on 3 or 4 July before travelling to Andorra for the second leg on 10 or 11 July.
If, as widely expected, the citizens qualify, they will have a much harder nut to crack as their opponents in the second qualifying round will be none other than FK Partizan Belgrade of Serbia, one of that country’s top teams.
Partizan have been to Malta on three other occasions in the past – all in connection with the former UEFA Cup. In 1984/85, they eliminated Rabat Ajax on a 4-0 aggregate, then in 1990/91, they beat Hibernians 5-0 on aggregate and in 2000/01, they eliminated Sliema on a 5-3 aggregate.
Hibernians’ opponents Sarajevo finished fourth in the Bosnia-Herzegovina league.
It is the second time for them to be drawn against a Maltese club. In season 2008/08, they had played against Marsaxlokk in the UEFA Champions League, winning the tie 9-1 on aggregate.
Hibernians are to play the first leg away from home on Thursday 5 July and are scheduled to play the return match in Malta on 12 July.
Birkirkara’s opponents FK Metalurg hail from Skopje, capital of Macedonia. Last year they finished in second place in the Macedonia First League with 67 points from 33 matches.
The first leg will be played in Malta, on Thursday 5 July with the second leg in the Železarnica Stadium on 12 July.
Floriana’s opponents are, perhaps, the strongest of them all.
IF Elsborg, currently the leaders of the Swedish top division, finished third last year on 57 points, six behind the champions, Helsingborg.
The club has won five Swedish championships in its history.
Floriana are to play the first leg away from home on Thursday 5 July and are scheduled to play the return match in Malta on 12 July.
However, the Hibs or Floriana home match will have to be moved to a day or two earlier because they cannot play on the same day.
The draws
Champions League
First qualifying round draw (matches to be played on 3/4 and 10/11 July)
F91 Dudelange (LUX) v SP Tre Penne (SMR)
Valletta FC (MLT) v FC Lusitans (AND)
Linfield FC (NIR) v B36 Tórshavn (FRO)
Second qualifying round draw (17/18 and 24/25 July)
KS Skënderbeu (ALB) v Debreceni VSC (HUN)
NK Maribor (SVN) v FK Željezničar (BIH)
MŠK Žilina (SVK) v Hapoel Kiryat Shmona FC (ISR)
FC BATE Borisov (BLR) v FK Vardar (MKD)
AEL Limassol FC (CYP) v Linfield FC (NIR)/B36 Tórshavn (FRO)
Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL) v FK Ekranas (LTU)
FC Flora Tallinn (EST) v FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
The New Saints FC (WAL) v Helsingborgs IF (SWE)
HJK Helsinki (FIN) v KR Reykjavík (ISL)
Molde FK (NOR) v FK Ventspils (LVA)
F91 Dudelange (LUX)/SP Tre Penne (SMR) v FC Salzburg (AUT)
FC Slovan Liberec (CZE) v FC Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ)
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Neftçi PFK (AZE) v FC Zestafoni (GEO)
Ulisses FC (ARM) v FC Sheriff (MDA)
Valletta FC (MLT)/FC Lusitans (AND) v FK Partizan (SRB)
FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) v WKS Śląsk Wroclaw (POL)
Europa League
First qualifying round draw (matches to be played on 5 and 12 July)
İnter Bakı PİK (AZE) v JK Trans Narva (EST)
FK Senica (SVK) v MTK Budapest (HUN)
KF Tirana (ALB) v CS Grevenmacher (LUX)
FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) v FC Aktobe (KAZ)
FK Borac Banja Luka (BIH) v FK Čelik Nikšić (MNE)
Bakı FK (AZE) v NK Mura (SVN)
IF Elfsborg (SWE) v Floriana FC (MLT)
FK Renova (MKD) v AC Libertas(SMR)
FC Santa Coloma (AND) v NK Osijek (CRO)
FK Jagodina (SRB) v FC Ordabasy Shymkent (KAZ)
FC Differdange 03 (LUX) v NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
Rosenborg BK (NOR) v Crusaders FC (NIR)
Myllykosken Pallo-47 (FIN) v Cefn Druids AFC (WAL)
FC Šiauliai (LTU) v FC Levadia Tallinn (EST)
Bohemian FC (IRL) v Thór Akureyri (ISL)
FK Sarajevo (BIH) v Hibernians FC (MLT)
FC Twente (NED) v UE Santa Coloma (AND)
FK Rudar Pljevlja (MNE) v FC Shirak (ARM)
KS Flamurtari (ALB) v Budapest Honvéd FC (HUN)
FC Dacia Chişinău (MDA) v NK Celje (SVN)
FK Sūduva (LTU) v FC Daugava (LVA)
KuPS Kuopio (FIN) v Llanelli AFC (WAL)
Kalmar FF (SWE) v Cliftonville FC (NIR)
Vikingur (FRO) v FC Gomel (BLR)
FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL) v FC USV Eschen-Mauren (LIE)
KKS Lech Poznań (POL) v FC Zhetysu Taldykorgan (KAZ)
Xäzär Länkäran FK (AZE) v JK Nõmme Kalju (EST)
Birkirkara FC (MLT) v FK Metalurg Skopje (MKD)
FK Zeta (MNE) v FC Pyunik (ARM)
KS Teuta (ALB) v FC Metalurgi Rustavi (GEO)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN) v AS Jeunesse Esch (LUX)
EB/Streymur (FRO) v FC Gandzasar Kapan (ARM)
Saint Patrick’s Athletic FC (IRL) v ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar (ISL)
SK Liepājas Metalurgs (LVA) v SP La Fiorita (SMR)
JJK Jyväskylä (FIN) v Stabæk Fotball (NOR)
FC Zimbru Chişinău (MDA) v Bangor City FC (WAL)
FK Skendija 79 (MKD) v Portadown FC (NIR)