FK Vardar is set to kick off their UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign for the first time since the 2017-18 season, as they host KuPS at the Tose Proeski Arena in Skopje on Tuesday evening for the first leg of the opening qualifying round. The Finnish team arrives with high morale, currently leading the Veikkausliiga and riding a wave of momentum after a convincing 4-0 victory against HJK Helsinki in their last match. Vardar enters this first leg following a strong performance in their domestic league, where they clinched the 2025-26 Macedonian First League title with 83 points, achieving 25 wins and five draws, and only suffering two losses throughout the season. Under the guidance of Cristian Fabbiani, Vardar has been in excellent form, winning their last seven matches and netting 23 goals while conceding only once in their previous eight games. This match signifies Vardar's return to the Champions League qualifying rounds for the first time since their last appearance in 2017-18, where they reached the third qualifying round but were eliminated after losing 4-1 in the second leg, despite winning the first leg 1-0 at home. That previous exit remains a painful memory for the team, motivating the current squad to strive for a deeper run this time. Cristian Fabbiani, who was appointed as head coach in late May following the departure of Goce Sedloski, will be making his managerial debut in this crucial match. Vardar's home performance has been a key factor in their success, remaining unbeaten in 19 of their last 21 home games across all competitions and achieving clean sheets in 40% of their last 30 matches at home. In their last 15 matches overall, Vardar has averaged 2.13 goals per game while conceding just 0.4, showcasing a team in outstanding form.