Hearts begin their 2026/27 campaign with a crucial Champions League second qualifying round tie against Sturm Graz in Austria on Tuesday, July 21. The match kicks off at 7:30pm BST at the Merkur Arena.
How to watch Sturm Graz vs Hearts
Premier Sports has exclusive live coverage of the match in the UK. The game will be shown on Premier Sports 1. Subscribers can also stream the match via the Premier Player on the broadcaster's website and mobile app.
Match background
Hearts earned their place in the qualifiers after leading the Scottish Premiership for over seven months last season, only to lose the title to Celtic on the final day at Parkhead. Sturm Graz finished second in the Austrian Bundesliga, missing out on the title to LASK by two points on the final day.
The Austrian side has recent experience against Scottish clubs, having beaten Rangers at the Merkur Arena and lost to Celtic in Glasgow during last season's Europa League league phase.
What's at stake
If Hearts overcome Sturm Graz over two legs, they will advance to the third qualifying round to face either Turkish giants Fenerbahce or Polish side Gornik Zabrze. Progressing would also guarantee a £5 million league phase spot in the Europa League as a fallback.
Follow the action
Daily Record will provide a live blog with pre-match build-up, team news, and live updates. Post-match reaction, player ratings, and talking points will also be available. Fans can follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for breaking news.
