The Champions League is the dream stage for every European team. It offers massive prestige, boosts a club’s global profile, and acts as undeniable proof to attract top players – especially if your team plays in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
But in recent years, the qualification process has become, in my opinion, unfair. The main culprit? The existence of two separate qualifying paths: the Champions Path and the League Path.
The Champions Path is for clubs that won their domestic league but didn’t qualify automatically for the group stage. They face each other for a chance to advance.
The League Path, on the other hand, is for strong teams that didn’t win their league but still finished high enough to compete for a group stage spot, teams like Fenerbahçe, Benfica, Feyenoord, Nice, Panathinaikos, and Club Brugge.
This system was introduced in 2010, supposedly to give more countries representation in the Champions League.
I understand the intent – broadening participation is good for visibility, but the result is that some already competitive teams are forced into brutal matchups, while others face far weaker opposition.
For example, a team like Feyenoord might get Benfica in the League Path, while a Champions Path team could face the champion of Cyprus or Lithuania. That’s not exactly a level playing field.
Fenerbahçe Experience
For Turkish clubs, making it to the Champions League group stage is already rare and valuable.
My club, Fenerbahçe, has struggled to qualify for a mix of reasons, some fair, some painfully unfair. While I won’t make excuses for every loss, our qualification draws have been consistently brutal. Just look at recent history:
2013/14: Playoff against Arsenal – at the time, a constant presence in the Champions League.
2015/16: Third Qualifying Round against Shakhtar Donetsk – a young, dangerous team even after losing stars to the Premier League.
2016/17: Third Qualifying Round against Monaco – their best season of the 2010s, reaching the semi-finals.
2018/19: Third Qualifying Round against Benfica – a club almost never eliminated in qualifiers.
2022/23: Third Qualifying Round against Dynamo Kiev – this loss is on us.
2024/25: Third Qualifying Round against Lille – quarter-finalists the previous season, top 16 in Europe.
2025/26: Playoff Round…against Benfica. Again.
It’s exhausting. Imagine your team having to play elite Champions League regulars every single year just to make it into the group stage.
Before even reaching Benfica this year, we had to eliminate Feyenoord – a team that reached the last 16 last season.
Now, compare that to the Champions Path playoff draw this season:
Ferencváros (Hungary) – UEFA rank 59 vs Qarabağ (Azerbaijan) – rank 65
Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) – rank 60 vs Pafos (Cyprus) – rank 134
Bodø/Glimt (Norway) – rank 40 vs Sturm Graz (Austria) – rank 74
Celtic (Scotland) – rank 56 vs Kairat (Kazakhstan) – rank 311
Basel (Switzerland) – rank 63 vs FC Copenhagen (Denmark) – rank 43
And the League Path playoff draw:
Fenerbahçe (Turkey) – rank 39 vs Benfica (Portugal) – rank 11
Rangers (Scotland) – rank 30 vs Club Brugge (Belgium) – rank 23
Let’s be honest – who would you rather face: Pafos or Club Brugge?
What Needs to Change
The Champions League should showcase Europe’s best teams, not just domestic champions from weaker leagues. Otherwise, why should the fourth-placed team in the Premier League or La Liga get in at all?
UEFA could take inspiration from basketball’s EuroLeague, where teams can receive long-term licenses or wild cards to participate regardless of domestic performance.
If UEFA doesn’t want to go down the licensing route, then at least scrap the separation between the Champions Path and the League Path. If you’re truly a champion, prove it against anyone, not just lower-ranked domestic winners.
Another idea: automatically qualify all teams ranked in UEFA’s top 20.
This would prevent absurd scenarios like having to beat Benfica, one of the most successful clubs in Champions League history, just to enter the group stage. Expecting teams to treat Benfica like a normal qualifier opponent is unreasonable.
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The Usual Counterargument
Critics often say, “But how will smaller clubs improve if they never get the chance?” Well, UEFA already created the Conference League four years ago to help those teams gain exposure and develop.
Plus, history shows that many of these “chance” teams struggle badly in the group stage. For example, Young Boys eliminated Galatasaray but then earned zero points in the group stage.
The current system rewards mediocrity for some and punishes ambition for others. Here’s hoping the decision-makers at UEFA eventually see the imbalance and take action.
Final Note
In my next piece, I’ll shift gears and talk about the football culture in Norwich, as I’ll be saying goodbye to the city at the end of this month before starting my London chapter.
But I wanted to leave this note here, part frustration, part love letter to Norwich Football Club, before I move on.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / DeFodi Images
Recording Date: 31.05.2025