First timers one step away from league phases after play-off first legs
Friday, August 21, 2026
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In the first legs of the play-off round, teams from across Europe moved within one game of the league phases of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League – including some that have never reached that stage before.
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With clubs hoping to make a landmark first appearance in a league phase or group stage of a UEFA competition still in contention, and others looking to book their spots following periods in the wilderness, we round up some of the standout storylines from the first legs.
UEFA Champions League: Viking battle back
Viking have only once qualified for a group stage or league phase of a UEFA competition, and that was more than 20 years ago in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup, but the Norwegian side have every chance of competing in the Champions League this season after coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at GNK Dinamo.
Domestically, Viking are locked in battle for the 2026 Eliteserien with Bodø/Glimt, the Champions League surprise package of last season who are well positioned for another league phase appearance after defeating NEC 3-1 in Nijmegen in their first leg. Bodø/Glimt had been coasting to victory before Danish forward Clement Bischoff gave the Dutch side a glimmer of hope.
"It was so nice to hear the Champions League anthem this evening. It’s been a childhood dream for me, and this was the first time I’d heard it played before a match I was in."
UEFA Europa League: Sint-Truidense set for league phase debut
Belgian side Sint-Truidense, playing in their first-ever game in a major UEFA competition, defeated Omonia 1-0 thanks to an added-time winner from Shogo Taniguchi, who played for Japan in this summer's World Cup.
Win or lose in the return leg in Cyprus, Sint-Truidense are guaranteed a first league phase appearance in either the UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League. The same applies to Ararat-Armenia, who have every chance of competing in the Europa League after a 1-1 draw at Romania’s Universitatea Craiova.
Meanwhile, Greek side OFI Crete pulled off a stunning 3-0 win at home to CSKA Sofia. It puts them in a strong position to make a first appearance in the league phase or group stage of a UEFA competition for more than 25 years.
UEFA Conference League: Andorrans on course to make history
Inter Escaldes kept their dream alive of becoming Andorra’s first representatives in the main draw of a UEFA competition, coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Kosovan side Drita.
Should Inter Escaldes make it, Andorra would become the 53rd national association to be represented in the league phase or group stage of a UEFA competition, as we continue to provide fresh opportunities to our member associations across the continent.
Elsewhere, another thrilling 2-2 draw was played out in Athens, where 19-year-old Nigerian forward Abdullahi Umar scored two late goals to deliver a famous result for Czech club Hradec Králové at Panathinaikos, keeping them in the hunt for a first European adventure since 1995.
How our men’s club competitions qualifying works
Qualifying for the UEFA club competitions has been designed to ensure that teams from a minimum of 37 national associations make their way to the league phases of either the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.
Losing sides from the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and Europa League are given another chance to progress when they parachute down into the Europa League or Conference League. Losing sides from the Champions League and Europa League play-offs go directly into the league phase of the Europa League and Conference League respectively.