Slovan Bratislava started at this stage last season and reached the league phase where they lost to Celtic, Manchester City and six other teams
The Champions League’s qualifying rounds kick off this week, with 28 teams fighting for a spot in the prestigious group stage. From small clubs like Virtus of San Marino, to debutants like FC Noah from Armenia, the road to the 2026 final is long, but each club is focused on its own historic journey. The first round, starting in Finland on Tuesday, will see the underdogs face the giants. Can anyone make it all the way to Budapest? We take a closer look at the teams, derbies, and stories unfolding in this year’s qualifiers.
Champions League Qualifying Begins: The Long Road to Glory Starts Now
The Champions League’s first qualifying round is upon us, and it might be the purest form of the competition. The campaign officially begins this week, with 28 teams all vying for a place in the group stage. These clubs may not have the iconic anthem or special match balls just yet, but the desire to claim a spot in Europe’s premier club competition is no less intense.
The opening match kicks off on Tuesday at 16:00 BST in Kuopio, Finland, where domestic champions from around Europe will take center stage. While the tournament will only build to its dramatic crescendo in Budapest in 2026, for many of the teams, this is the beginning of a thrilling journey. Some will fall early, while others hope to keep their dream alive, as they move one step closer to the grand stage.
The Road Less Traveled: Underestimated Teams in the Spotlight
Slovan Bratislava started at this stage last season and reached the league phase where they lost to Celtic, Manchester City and six other teams
Among the 28 teams participating, only a handful will make it all the way to the group stage. The first round of qualifying is the hardest part of the competition, but it’s also the most democratic. Teams like Virtus of San Marino, one of the lowest-ranked clubs in the tournament, know they are up against overwhelming odds. With no professional players and a club coefficient ranking of 552nd, Virtus is on a path that could see them face giants in the next few rounds. But the team is embracing the challenge.
“Getting here is a privilege,” said Virtus’ president, Pier Domenico Giulianelli. “We know these matches will be tough, but we are confident we can compete well in the Conference League if we don’t advance.”
AC Virtus won the Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio by four points for their second league title
With a rich history in their domestic league but limited international experience, the Sammarinese champions will face Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar. Their chances are slim, but the experience alone will be invaluable, setting the stage for the future. A second consecutive league title means they are back, but their ambitions extend beyond just the Champions League, with a focus on the third qualifying round of the Conference League.
Can Anyone Go All the Way?
While the odds are stacked against the underdogs, there have been cases where teams have shocked the continent. Only 10 teams in history have made it all the way from the first qualifying round to the group phase. One such team was Slovan Bratislava last year, who, despite losing every group stage game, earned over £15m just for reaching the prestigious tournament.
Liverpool is the only team to have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League after starting in the first round. In the 2005-06 season, the Reds went through three rounds of qualifying and made it all the way to the last 16, despite being the defending champions.
Teams like these offer hope for those in the early rounds who are fighting for every possible chance. If any of the teams qualify for the knockout stages, they could end up playing a staggering 25 Champions League matches before the final. For the clubs who make it to the group stage, it’s an achievement worth celebrating—even if they ultimately fall short in the tournament.
New Blood in the Champions League: FC Noah and Others
This season’s qualifiers feature several debutants looking to make their mark. One such team is Armenian side FC Noah, who will play Montenegrin side Buducnost Podgorica. FC Noah, formed only eight years ago, has made remarkable progress under new management. They won the Armenian league and cup double, earning them a spot in the Champions League qualifiers.
Their ambitious journey has captivated the Armenian football scene, with director Anna Ohanyan stating, “This qualification gives us a chance to show that ambition to the whole of Europe.”
Intense Derbies to Look Out For
This year’s first qualifying round also features some thrilling derbies between neighboring countries. The match between Shelbourne of Ireland and Linfield of Northern Ireland is particularly notable. Both clubs have a rich history, with Linfield’s 57 league titles making them regular fixtures in this stage of the competition.
Likewise, the game between Levadia Tallinn of Estonia and RFS of Latvia will be a fierce contest, given the geographical proximity and historical rivalry between the two sides. Both teams have experienced success on the domestic front, but they’ll now face the daunting challenge of moving forward in European competition.
British Clubs and the Quest for Glory
Noah played eventual Conference League winners Chelsea in the league phase last season, losing 8-0 – but they did pick up four points from six games
Several British clubs will look to make an impact in the tournament, but they’re all starting in different stages. Welsh champions The New Saints (TNS) face North Macedonian side Shkendija in the first round. Their clash in 2018 was a dramatic affair, with Shkendija eventually progressing after a 5-4 aggregate scoreline.
Meanwhile, Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps are back in Champions League qualifying for the first time in years. Their 43-year-old striker Lee Casciaro remains a key player for the club, having scored against Celtic in a famous shock victory back in 2016.
England’s top clubs—Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, and Tottenham—enter the league phase, bypassing the qualifiers.
The Fate of the Losers: Europa and Conference League Opportunities
Even if a team fails to make it through the Champions League, all is not lost. Clubs that are eliminated from the qualifiers drop into the Conference League qualifiers, offering them a second chance at European glory. Some teams that fail in the second qualifying round will even drop into the Europa League third qualifying round.
For teams like Virtus and Lincoln Red Imps, a deep run in the Conference League is the ultimate fallback. But for now, the focus is firmly on taking on the giants of European football in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.
