Clubs from Cyprus and North Macedonia enjoy groundbreaking UEFA qualification campaigns
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
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The qualifying rounds of our three men’s club competitions have already produced historic achievements, with two rounds still to be completed.
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For more than 150 clubs across Europe, July’s fixture schedule offered a chance to break new ground in qualification for our 2025/26 men's club competitions.
The second qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League saw teams across the continent embrace the opportunity to compete, and progress, in elite European competition.
Shkëndija advance
Shkëndija of North Macedonia are one such club, with the 2025/26 season already a record-breaker for them in European competition.
Their 3-1 aggregate win over Romania's FCSB means that Shkëndija will qualify for a UEFA club competition league phase for the first time, with the qualification structure meaning that all teams in the champions path of the third qualifying round are guaranteed, as a minimum, a spot in the UEFA Conference League.
Following their 2-1 second-leg win away in Bucharest, Shkëndija have equalled the best-ever qualifying run by a North Macedonian side in the Champions League era. Next up is a third-round meeting with Qarabağ.
How Champions League qualifying works
Pafos flying flag for Cyprus
Pafos’ debut UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign continues after the club from Cyprus beat Maccabi Tel Aviv away from home to seal a 2-1 aggregate win.
Pafos excelled in their first-ever European campaign last season, reaching the round of 16 in the Conference League, and have the chance to play at a higher level this season, with Dynamo Kyiv awaiting them in the third qualifying round.
Pafos are two rounds away from being the first team from Cyprus since APOEL in 2017/18 to successfully qualify for the league phase of the Champions League (previously group stage).
Extra-time drama in the Europa League
There were dramatic late scenes in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round, with Midtjylland scoring in the final minute of extra time to win 2-1 away at Hibernian and triumph 3-2 on aggregate.
Sweden’s Häcken left it even later to beat Belgian giants Anderlecht, scoring a stoppage-time penalty to force extra time and a shootout, which they won to set up a third qualifying round tie against Norwegian side Brann.
Journey continues for FC Noah
FC Noah’s hopes of qualifying for a UEFA club competition remain alive, as they switch to the Europa League third qualifying round after their spirited defeat against Ferencváros in the Champions League. Noah contributed to a second-round thriller in Hungary, scoring three goals at Ferencváros Stadion but losing 4-3 on the night and 6-4 on aggregate.
Noah made their full European debut last season in the league phase of the Conference League and could become the first club from Armenia to make it through qualification in the Europa League, with a third-round tie against Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar on the horizon before a potential play-off later in August.
Conference League qualifiers
Vaduz of Liechtenstein and Klaksvík from the Faroe Islands were among the 50 teams to advance in the Conference League second qualifying round, as clubs from all corners of Europe continue to embrace the chance to compete in continental competitions.
How UEFA's competitions strengthen club football across Europe
The new format of our men's club competitions has not only delivered added dynamism and drama, but also given more teams more chances to test themselves against the continent's best and take on a wider variety of opponents.
Over July and August, more than 400 qualifying round matches will help determine the final line-ups for the league phases of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.