Europe's new and unfamiliar faces: Plenty of new and returning faces set to compete in UEFA competitions next season

Some returning and new faces add to the excitement of the UEFA competitions for next season. (Image credits – Heute; licence details) 

The top three tiers of European club football are the UEFA Champions League, the Europa League, and the recently established Conference League. These competitions are primarily dominated by clubs from Europe's top five leagues: the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1. UCL has always been an elite competition with elite clubs competing, including Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and many others, but in a few odd seasons, plenty of new or returning names beat the odds and qualified. As the 2025-26 season concludes, next season's UEFA competitions are expected to feature a large number of newcomers and clubs returning to the European stage after a long absence. From Sunderland's remarkable rise from their first promoted season to Como's fairytale finish in Serie A, the European competitions are set to gain new challengers, ensuring plenty of excitement for the coming season. 

Torreense (Liga Portugal 2)

For the first time in many years, a team from the second division will compete in Europe. (Image credits – Heute; licence details) 

Torreense, of Portugal's second division, stunned Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Cup final, scoring a late penalty in extra time to claim the club's first major trophy in its 109-year history. This is a fairytale moment for the underdogs, who qualified for the UEFA Europa League after winning the domestic cup. A team from the small town of Torres Vedras, which plays in a stadium with a capacity of only 2500 fans, is set to compete in the second tier of European competition, and it's yet another beautiful story about the sport.

Como 1907 (Serie-A)

Como have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history. (Image credits – Heute; licence details) 

Cesc Fabregas' Como side has made history by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, Europe's top tier, for the first time in their history. Como finished one point ahead of AC Milan, edging them out of the UCL qualification race. This achievement will be remembered for a long time, as it came only two years after being promoted to the first division. The Italian club has made significant progress since Fabregas' tactical identity, and they are now ready to compete with Europe's top clubs. They will be an exciting team to watch next season thanks to the presence of young players such as Nico Paz, Maximo Perrone, Anastasios Douvikas, Lucas Da Cunha, Jesus Rodriguez, and Jacobo Ramon.

Sunderland (Premier League)

Sunderland achieved European qualification in their first season after promotion. (Image credits – Heute; licence details) 

Most pundits predicted Sunderland's relegation before the season began, but the opposite has happened. The Black Cats have played sensational football in the top division, finishing 7th in the table with 54 points, which is incredible for a team that had only recently been promoted and became only the tenth team in the competition's history to do so. Regis Le Bris' side will compete in the Europa League, marking a remarkable return to European competition for the first time since 1973-74. This is an incredible opportunity for the club to bolster their squad and solidify their position in the English top flight and Europe, but it will be a difficult task.

Bournemouth (Premier League)

This season, Bournemouth has been one of the Premier League's hardest teams to defeat. (Image credits – Heute; licence details) 

Bournemouth had an incredible season despite losing several key players, and their draw against Manchester City cemented their place in a European competition. Andoni Iraola's side drew their last game against Nottingham, finishing sixth in the table, three points behind Liverpool. This is a historic moment for the Cherries because they have never played in a European competition before, and this will be their first appearance in a continental competition next season. They have advanced rapidly in the English football ecosystem, from League Two two decades ago to the second tier of European football today. However, it will be a difficult task for the club because their tactician in chief, Iraola, is set to depart this summer for Liverpool.

Brighton (Premier League)

Brighton have displayed a sensational brand of football in the Premier League this season. (Image credits – Heute; licence details) 

Brighton finished eighth in the Premier League, one point behind Sunderland, and qualified for the UEFA Conference League, a third-tier European competition. This is a huge moment for the Seagulls, as it's only the second time in the club's 124-year-old history that they've qualified for a European competition. Brighton did qualify for Europe a few seasons back and topped the group stages, but they got knocked out in the RO16 by Serie A giants AS Roma by 4-1 on aggregate. Fabian Hurzeler’s side has shown plenty of promise and will hope to continue the Premier League’s domination in the Conference League.

Getafe (La Liga)

After a six-year wait, the Estadio Coliseum will finally host European games. (Image credits – Heute; licence details) 

Getafe finished seventh in La Liga with 51 points in their season. This was the club's most successful season in recent memory under manager José Bordalás. They also accomplished this feat despite having a negative goal difference of -6 and scoring the fewest goals in the competition after 20th-placed Real Oviedo. Bordalas' team is known for its defensive resilience and low-block approach, which can be difficult to break through. Away games against them are among the most difficult to play in La Liga. Getafe has qualified for the UEFA Conference League, marking a return to European competition after six years. They had previously lost 2-0 to Serie A giants Inter Milan in a single-leg Europa League RO16.