6 Teams making their European league/group phase debuts this season

The introduction of the UEFA Conference League three years ago led to many teams getting a chance to play on the European stage for the first time, especially those from lesser footballing nations. That trend continues this season as 11 of the 36 competitors are playing in the league (formerly group) phase of a major UEFA competition for the first time. 29 nations are being represented in the Conference League this season from Iceland to Cyprus to Kazakhstan. So who are the new boys?

FC Heidenheim (Germany)

It perhaps comes as a surprise that a team from one of the top five leagues is on this list, but Heidenheim have never even got close to European qualification in previous years. Coming from a town with a last recorded population of just over 50,000. The southern German side played in Germany’s top flight for the first time ever last season and managed to finish 8th, qualifying for Europe due to Leverkusen’s cup win. With a squad containing mostly native German players, Heidenheim are well known for having the longest serving manager in German football league history. Frank Schmidt is still yet to coach a club other than Heidenheim, who he has been in charge of since 2007! Despite being newcomers the German outfit will have confidence that they can advance to the knockout phase after their strong start to life in the Bundesliga, currently sitting 4th after three games.

Heidenheim have gone from the 5th tier of German football all the way to qualifying for Europe in their debut Bundesliga season in just 17 years, all under the guidance of Frank Schmidt.

They play at Voith Arena (15,000) which holds just under a third of the towns population. pic.twitter.com/v2HCqdi8GT

— The European Football Express (@TheEuroFE) July 2, 2024

The New Saints (Wales)

Anyone who has heard of The New Saints knows they are an extremely dominant side in the Welsh football league. TNS have finished first or second in every campaign bar one since the 2001/2002 season, winning the title 15 times in that time frame. Yet European football is something they have never been able to succeed in, appearing in Europe every season since the turn of the century, but never making it past the qualifying rounds. That finally changed this year when the Saints beat Lithuanian side Panevezys in the playoffs, becoming the first Welsh league team to ever appear this far into the competition. The side who humorously play their football across the border in Shropshire, England will enjoy facing Italian giants Fiorentina as well as a trip to Irish side Shamrock Rovers.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The New Saints have become the first club from the Welsh football pyramid to ever qualify for the group phase of a European competition.

TNS, who became champions of Wales by a European record 33 points last season, are actually based in Oswestry, Shropshire in England. pic.twitter.com/PeGVotMIcW

— The Sweeper (@SweeperPod) August 29, 2024

Noah (Armenia)

Most Chelsea fans won't have heard of Armenian club Noah when they were drawn against each other a few weeks ago. And rightfully so, as the side were formed just seven years ago in 2017. Armenia had their first ever group stage representative back in the Conference League’s first campaign, now it is Noah’s turn to shine. Originally named FC Artsakh, the club was rebranded in 2019 to be named after the biblical figure from the story of Noah’s Ark, due to the Ark coming to a rest on the Mountains of Ararat in Armenia. It was a long journey to qualification for FC Noah, starting in the first qualifying round, but four opponents later they achieved league stage qualification. Making history by becoming the first team to navigate all four qualification rounds of the Conference League.

Armenian side FC Noah beat AEK Athens 3-1 in a Conference League qualifier tonight. Their 34-year-old keeper scored this to put them in front midway through the second half. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/XRs73LEqU4

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) August 6, 2024

Larne (Northern Ireland)

Along with Wales, Northern Ireland are the other nation to finally be represented in the latter stages of Europe. Larne is a coastal town with a population of just 18,853 (2021 Census) the football club had little notable success before it was taken over by Purplebricks co-founder Kenny Bruce in 2018, when the club was sitting bottom of the second division. Since then it has been a quick rise to the top, winning the second division in 2019, appearing in Europe for the first time in 2021, and winning a first Premiership title in 2023. Now they are the first Northern Irish team to appear in the league/group stage in the current era of UEFA competition, and will see trips to Belgium, Switzerland, Belarus and most importantly a tie against Republic of Ireland side, Shamrock Rovers.

Larne qualify for the Conference League - a first for an Irish League club.

For the first ever time clubs from all four home nations and the Republic of Ireland will be in the same competition.pic.twitter.com/m6JBCLBiBW

— SPFL Mediawatch (@SPFLWatch) August 29, 2024

Vikingur Reykjavik (Iceland)

Vikingur are one of the more historic clubs in Iceland with a history of competing in various European qualification stages but never reached the group or league phase until now. They won the Icelandic title last season for a seventh time (but only the second time since 1991) and the closest they’d previously come to qualification was the third qualifying round of the Conference League in the 22/23 season. The sports club also has handball, tennis, table tennis, karate and skiing sectors.

🚨 🇮🇸 Víkingur Reykjavík will play in the league stage of the European competition for the first time in their history!

✅ 🇮🇸 Iceland will have team in the league stage of the Conference League for the second year in the row!

❌ 🇦🇩 Andorra still without the league stage. pic.twitter.com/t3zLgyKzbf

— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) August 29, 2024

Cercle Brugge (Belgium)

Cercle Brugge is a club of high pedigree in Belgium, featuring in the top flight regularly yet they have always been overshadowed by the team they share a ground with and rivals, Club Brugge. This has led to only one appearance in Europe since the 90s, where they failed to get out of the Europa League qualifying rounds (2010/2011 season). After a strong campaign last year, they were given the chance to qualify for Europe, which they took dramatically beating Polish side Wisla Krakow 7-5 on aggregate in the final play off for a spot in the Conference League. This tie included a 6-1 second leg victory overturning the 4-1 defeat they suffered in the first leg. They now face a trip to Scotland to play Hearts as well as a home tie against Istanbul Basaksehir.

Cercle kwalificeert zich voor het eerst voor een Europese groepsfase! 🇪🇺 🟢⚫️ pic.twitter.com/apNIQpQ7ot

— Cercle Brugge (@cercleofficial) August 29, 2024

That is only six of the 11 newcomers in the Conference League this season, the other five being Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Celje (Slovenia), Jagiellonia Bialystok (Poland), Pafos (Cyprus), and Petrocub Hincesti (Moldova). Many of these teams are amongst the first to receive the opportunity to represent their nation on the biggest stage, proving how integral and amazing the Conference League is for the whole of European football.