Brighton and Tromsø for a place in the Conference League league phase
Brighton & Hove Albion and Tromsø IL meet at the stadium in Falmer in the second leg of the Conference League play-off. The stakes are completely clear: the winner of the tie advances to the league phase of the competition, while the losing team ends its European season.
The first match is played on 20 August at Romssa Arena in Tromsø, so at the time this guide is being prepared, the result with which the teams will arrive in Brighton is not yet known. Because of that, the character of the second leg will largely depend on what happens inside the Arctic Circle. Brighton may have to chase the result in front of their own supporters, but they could equally find themselves in a situation where they need to control an advantage gained in the first leg.
For Brighton, this is a return to European matches after finishing the 2025/26 season in eighth place in the English championship. Tromsø enter the tie with a completely different rhythm: the Norwegian league has been running since March and Jørgen Vik's team already have a large number of competitive minutes in their legs.
Ticket sales for this match are under way, and the decisive nature of the tie means that the stands in Falmer will carry additional weight. For a supporter planning the trip, the most important thing to know is that this is not an ordinary early-season match - after the final whistle, one of these two teams will have secured European football for the autumn.
Brighton enter the new season with a changed squad
Fabian Hürzeler had to adapt the team during the summer after several important changes to the squad. Brighton lost last season's first-choice striker Danny Welbeck, while Jan Paul van Hecke departed from the defence. At the same time, players such as Luke Vuskovic, Olivier Boscagli, Lewis Dunk and Eiran Cashin are competing for places in the back line.
It will be particularly interesting to see how Hürzeler distributes the attacking roles. Georginio Rutter showed during pre-season that he can play as a central striker or drop between the lines, while Charalampos Kostoulas is one of the younger options at the top of the attack. Stefanos Tzimas was returning from a serious injury during the summer, so his role in this tie should be assessed according to his condition immediately before the match.
Brighton completed their final pre-season matches very convincingly. After coming from behind to beat Strasbourg 4-3, Hürzeler's team defeated Roma 3-0 and then Bologna 1-0. The way the goals against Strasbourg were created is particularly interesting: all four of Brighton's goals came from situations connected with set pieces. Pascal Groß was involved in several such moves, Boscagli and Cashin scored following set pieces, while Ibrahim Osman converted a penalty.
Against Roma, Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari stood out. Rutter opened the scoring with a shot from outside the penalty area, while Ayari scored two goals. The final pre-season test against Bologna was decided by Jack Hinshelwood, a player Hürzeler highlighted after the match for his increasingly important leadership role.
- Brighton - Strasbourg 4-3
- Brighton - Roma 3-0
- Brighton - Bologna 1-0
- The team finished pre-season unbeaten
- Set pieces were an especially dangerous weapon against Strasbourg
Such results guarantee nothing in a competitive two-legged tie, but they reveal several patterns. Brighton want to have the ball, push a large number of players towards the opposition penalty area and create pressure through repeated attacks. Against Bologna, they had 59 percent possession, 20 shots and nine attempts on target. In a second leg in which they might need to chase the result, that volume of attacking play could be decisive.
Injuries may change Brighton's plans
The biggest questions ahead of the tie concern several players whose fitness status was not completely stable during the summer. Kaoru Mitoma underwent hamstring surgery in May after an injury that ended his previous season. His potential return would significantly increase Brighton's ability to create one-on-one situations on the left side.
Yankuba Minteh injured his leg against Roma on 8 August and had to leave the pitch. Hürzeler did not want to give a definitive assessment at the time before further examinations. Since the fitness situation can change quickly, the players' final availability for the second leg needs to be assessed according to information immediately before the match.
That is also important tactically. With Mitoma or Minteh, Brighton gain a more direct attack through the wings, while without them a larger share of the creativity may fall to Rutter, Diego Gómez, Ayari, Hinshelwood and the full-backs pushing high up the pitch.
Tromsø arrive in the middle of a full competitive season
The biggest difference between the opponents is not only in budget or individual quality, but also in the stage of the season. Brighton are only entering their competitive rhythm, while Tromsø already have 17 league matches and several European qualifying ties behind them.
After 17 rounds, Tromsø are third in the Eliteserien with 34 points, behind Bodø/Glimt and Viking. The team have recorded 10 wins, four draws and three defeats in the league, with a goal difference of 34-20. That is enough for Brighton to take very seriously an opponent that may not have the same international recognition but has played consistent football for most of the season.
Tromsø were particularly convincing in overcoming their previous qualifying obstacle. They beat CFR Cluj 5-0 away and then 2-1 at Romssa Arena, winning 7-1 on aggregate. Before that, they were eliminated from a higher-tier European qualifying competition by Hradec Králové, following a 0-1 result at home and a 1-3 defeat away.
The final league match before the tie with Brighton brought a 3-2 defeat away to Molde on 16 August. That result, however, does not erase the very good run that preceded it. Tromsø beat Aalesund 6-2 at the beginning of August and then scored five goals in Romania.
- Tromsø are third with 34 points after 17 league rounds
- They have a league record of 10 wins, four draws and three defeats
- They have scored 34 and conceded 20 goals in the league so far
- They defeated CFR Cluj 7-1 on aggregate
- Their most recent league appearance ended in a 3-2 defeat away to Molde
This is a team that knows how to punish open space. Brighton therefore will not be able to treat the second leg as a match in which simply keeping the ball for long periods is enough. If they lose their structure after giving away possession, Tromsø have enough speed and established patterns to reach the final third before the home defence can reorganise.
Tromsø have lost one of their best players of the season
An important development occurred immediately before this tie. Jens Hjertø-Dahl, one of Tromsø's best players in the first part of the league season, left the club at the beginning of August and moved to Hull City.
By mid-July, Hjertø-Dahl had already scored seven league goals and was joint top of the scoring charts. For a midfielder, that was an exceptionally important contribution. His departure deprives Tromsø of a player who could attack the penalty area from deep, win a duel and at the same time connect the midfield and attacking lines.
Jørgen Vik now has to distribute that responsibility across the rest of the team. The experienced Ruben Yttergård Jenssen brings control and experience to central midfield, while David Edvardsson can also play an important role in building attacks.
On the flanks, Alexander Warneryd is worth watching. The Swedish wing-back scored a hat-trick in the 6-2 league win over Aalesund, which clearly shows how high Tromsø's wide players can advance into finishing positions. Heine Åsen Larsen was also very dangerous during the summer run of matches, including qualifying appearances.
For Brighton, the width of Tromsø's play is precisely one of the warnings. If a home full-back pushes very high, the space behind him could become an area the Norwegians try to attack immediately after winning the ball.
Tactical battle: Brighton's control against Tromsø's verticality
Hürzeler used a 4-2-3-1 structure during pre-season, but Brighton's positions in possession are not rigid. The full-backs can push high, midfielders can interchange between lines, while Rutter often drops from the top of the attack to open space for a player arriving from deep.
Against Roma, it was precisely that movement that created problems for the defence. Rutter moved between the lines, Ayari attacked space from midfield, while Diego Gómez contributed to the creative play. Against Bologna, Brighton again had territorial control and a large number of finishes.
Tromsø's response will probably be a more compact structure without the ball and a rapid switch of play towards wide positions after winning possession. Jørgen Vik had already stressed before the first match that his team believe in their own style and expect to be able to cause problems for the favoured opponent.
In the second leg, the first goal will carry great psychological value. If Brighton are chasing the result from Tromsø, an early goal could completely change the atmosphere in the stadium. If the home side are defending a lead, the more interesting question will then be how willing Hürzeler is to reduce risk and concede some possession.
Set pieces are another area to watch. Brighton showed a number of different solutions from free kicks and corners against Strasbourg, while Boscagli and Cashin can be very dangerous in the penalty area. In a knockout match, one well-executed set piece is often worth more than ten minutes of sterile possession.
Amex and Falmer: what you need to know before arriving
Brighton play their home matches at the American Express Stadium in Falmer, at Village Way, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9BL. The stadium opened in 2011 and holds approximately 32 thousand spectators, while its location outside the city centre itself means that transport planning is more important than at stadiums that can simply be reached on foot from the centre.
Falmer railway station is located immediately next to the stadium. A train from the direction of Brighton's main station is one of the simplest ways to arrive, and the stadium is also connected by bus and park-and-ride services.
For this match, Brighton stated that the ticket includes bus or train travel within the club's travel zone. Visitors should nevertheless check the latest transport information immediately before departure because arrangements may change depending on railway works and the match itself.
- The stadium address is Village Way, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9BL
- Falmer station is located immediately next to the stadium
- Car parking spaces need to be reserved in advance
- Club car parks generally open three hours before kick-off
- Parking on surrounding streets is restricted by matchday traffic regulations
For drivers, it is important not to rely on finding a free space in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. The club uses pre-booked car parks and park-and-ride locations, while the surrounding streets are covered by a special traffic scheme. Arriving earlier reduces the risk of congestion, especially for evening European matches when a large number of spectators arrive within a relatively short period.
The exact opening time of the entrances for this match had not yet been specified in the verified information, so there is no point in guessing. Supporters with tickets should allow for security checks and leave enough time between arriving in Falmer and taking their seats in the stands.
It is worth securing tickets in good time, especially because the result of the first match will directly affect demand in the days before the second leg.
Tromsø are bringing an organised away following
Tromsø received a total allocation of 1500 tickets for their supporters, distributed across four blocks. That provides a good basis for a visible and vocal away following, particularly considering the distance supporters from northern Norway have to travel to southern England.
At the same time, Brighton are trying to strengthen the atmosphere in the home stands further. For this European match, the club opened wider ticket sales, while the organisation of the south stand forms part of a broader attempt to create stronger home pressure.
The knockout match will additionally change the rhythm in the stands. If the tie remains open until the final twenty minutes or so, every defensive action, corner or set piece can lift the stadium. Tromsø are accustomed to intense home matches at Romssa Arena, but a full Falmer represents a completely different environment.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly when a second leg directly decides qualification, so planning the trip together with the ticket is much more practical than dealing with those matters separately immediately before the match.
Brighton as a city for away supporters
Brighton is located on the south coast of England, while the stadium is situated in Falmer, northeast of the city centre. That difference is important for travellers attending a match there for the first time. Staying in the centre provides easier access to restaurants, pubs and the seafront, but additional time for the train or bus needs to be allowed for when travelling to the stadium.
The most practical pattern for most visitors is to arrive in Brighton sufficiently early and head towards Falmer before the biggest wave of supporters. After the match, the railway station and bus services handle a large part of the crowd, so waiting and controlled crowd management should be expected.
Anyone arriving by car should arrange parking in advance or use park-and-ride. Trying to approach the stadium without a reserved space usually only increases the amount of time spent in traffic.
What to watch from the first minute
For a spectator in the stadium, several details can quickly show which way the match is going.
The first is Brighton's pressing. If the home side force Tromsø to clear the ball early and manage to regain possession, the pressure can turn into a long series of attacks around the visitors' penalty area.
The second is the space behind Brighton's full-backs. Tromsø's wide players have shown that they can push very high, and Warneryd's three goals against Aalesund are the best example of how dangerous a player who starts deep on the flank on paper can become.
The third detail is set pieces. Brighton showed several variations during pre-season, and in a match that could be decided by one goal, every corner or free kick in the final third becomes a genuine opportunity.
Finally, the aggregate score must also be monitored. The team that needs to score will play with a completely different level of risk from the team satisfied with the existing scoreline. That is why the events of the first match in Tromsø will be the key to understanding Hürzeler's and Vik's decisions in Falmer.
For Brighton, this is an opportunity to turn their European season from a qualifying plan into a campaign lasting several months. For Tromsø, the possibility of eliminating an English top-flight club is one of the biggest challenges of the season. It is precisely this difference in expectations that gives the second leg additional tension: the home side carry the role of favourites, but the Norwegians arrive as a team that has already been in competitive rhythm for months and scored seven goals in the previous qualifying tie.
Sources:
- Brighton & Hove Albion - confirmation of the second-leg date, information on ticket sales, transport, parking, the stadium and pre-season matches against Strasbourg, Roma and Bologna
- Tromsø IL - confirmation of the tie, match dates and the allocation of 1500 places for away supporters in Brighton
- Tromsø IL Resultater - Tromsø's results in the 2026 season and the current Eliteserien table
- statistikk.til.no - line-ups, results and individual performances of Tromsø players during the league season
- The Guardian - overview of Brighton's 2025/26 season, squad changes and the current context of the tie with Tromsø
- FotMob - current squads and player statuses for both teams
- Stadium Jobs - information on the location, opening and capacity of the stadium in Falmer