Football fans can look forward to fresh excitement as four new clubs step into the spotlight ahead of Thursday’s draw for the league phase of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
Among the debutants are Pafos FC of Cyprus and Norway’s Bodo/Glimt—two teams whose rapid rise has captured attention across Europe.
For Pafos, the achievement is nothing short of extraordinary. Founded only in 2014, the Cypriot side has surged through the ranks to now stand among Europe’s elite. Their historic qualification came at the expense of Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade. After securing a 1-1 draw in the second leg, Pafos edged through 3-2 on aggregate, sparking wild celebrations for a club that has made history barely a decade after its creation.
Bodo/Glimt, long admired as Norway’s rising powerhouse, also secured a maiden place in the tournament. They dismantled Austria’s Sturm Graz with an emphatic 6-2 aggregate victory, displaying their trademark attacking flair. Although they lost 2-1 in the second leg, the heavy advantage from the first leg left little doubt about their progression.
Joining them are Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium, continuing their impressive renaissance on the European stage, and Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, who shocked Scottish champions Celtic with a dramatic penalty shootout triumph.
Kairat’s achievement represents a landmark moment for Kazakh football, making them only the second club from the nation to reach this stage, after Astana’s breakthrough in 2015.
With these four teams entering the mix, the 2025/26 Champions League promises new storylines, underdog drama, and the opportunity for fresh heroes to be etched into Europe’s football folklore.
What you should know
This season’s UEFA Champions League marks a historic milestone with four debutants—Pafos FC, Bodo/Glimt, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Kairat Almaty.
Their unexpected rise adds a fresh underdog narrative to Europe’s biggest club competition, raising anticipation for thrilling clashes and potential surprises on the continental stage.
