The 2026-27 Champions League is shaping up to be an extraordinary one, featuring four debutants that crafted stunning stories to reach the league phase. They took a daunting journey to reach this stage of the competition by upsetting the odds and producing jaw-dropping comebacks to create history. As a result, this time the playoffs produced some of the stunning results ever seen in the competition's history.
The 2026-27 Champions League is shaping up to be an extraordinary one, featuring four debutants that crafted stunning stories to reach the league phase. They took a daunting journey to reach this stage of the competition by upsetting the odds and producing jaw-dropping comebacks to create history. As a result, this time the playoffs produced some of the stunning results ever seen in the competition's history.
Only one side among the debutants, Como, who had a sensational rise themselves and were the only ones to have directly qualified for the main stage, belonged to the top five leagues in Europe, showing the diversification in the Champions League this time. The Italian side and Sabah FK stand apart, as this will be their first adventure not only in Europe’s premier competition but also the first taste of any continental football in their history. Whereas LASK and Viking FK produced unprecedented milestones to make their presence felt.
We look at the detailed journey of the four teams that will be making their debut in the Champions League 2026-27 season:
1. Como
Perhaps the most remarkable story not just in Italian football but in the Champions League will be scripted by Como as they secured their historic first appearance at the European stage with a fourth-place finish on the final day of the Serie A season. The club's rise from the second division to the top flight and now into Europe's biggest club competition under the tutelage of former star midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been nothing short of extraordinary. Como will be the only club to debut in the Champions League directly after finishing with a stunning 71 points and even taking the spot ahead of historical giants like Milan and Juventus and regulars Atalanta.
The team, full of talent and a manager who is showing tactical intelligence from his playing days, will now showcase their skill on the biggest club football stage to extend their fairytale. The path is never easy in Europe’s premier club competition, as they will rub shoulders with continental elites like Barcelona, Manchester United and two-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the league phase, among several other challenges. It will be a huge test for the side to balance Europe and domestic football while maintaining the same standard. Still, Como will be determined to produce a memorable fight in their first flurry on the continental stage.
2. LASK
LASK enjoyed a memorable season last time as they crowned themselves champions of Austria for only the second time in their history. Now adding to their remarkable domestic success, they have taken the next big step in qualifying for the main stage of the Champions League for the first time ever. It was just their third qualifying campaign for the competition and first since 2019-20, yet they accomplished their goal by scripting a comeback for the ages. Winning the Austrian Bundesliga allowed them to achieve a direct spot in the playoffs of the Champions League, but they were handed a difficult tie against Scottish champions Celtic.
The 1967 winners slammed Dietmar Kühbauer's side 3-0 in the first leg at Glasgow. LASK’s task was made even harder when Martin O'Neill’s side took the lead in the return leg as well. Yet, the hosts produced a miracle. Equalising on the night in the first half, LASK went on to score three more unexpected goals in the second half, including the leveller of the tie from a last-minute corner to force extra time. American forward Samuel Adeniran scored a remarkable winner in that period to complete his brace and send his side to the league phase of the competition.
No team ever came from 4-0 down on aggregate to win the tie in the playoffs before, so it was a special milestone for LASK for fans who will now witness the dream scenario of facing giants like Liverpool and Real Madrid in their historic Champions League season.
3. Viking FK
One of the newcomers in the league phase of the Champions League this season, Viking FK also produced a sensational comeback to secure their place among Europe’s elite for the first time in the club’s history. It completed a remarkable journey from Norwegian champions to being in Europe’s top-tier competition. As said, it was not without adversity, with Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim’s team facing Croatian giants GNK Dinamo Zagreb in the playoffs, who appeared nine times in the Champions League proper. For a side gunning for their first, it was a major test, and they faced the heat of the battle when they went down 2-0 inside just 10 minutes in the first leg at Zagreb.
However, Viking’s spirit and determination were next to none as they kept battling, with Peter Christiansen’s stunner met by Zlatko Tripic's equaliser just before half-time, allowing the side to take a thrilling 2-2 draw back at home rather than a deficit. But they once again fell behind in front of home support by conceding another early goal. Yet, just like the first leg when elimination loomed large, they shone like never before. Tripic inspired the side again by scoring the leveller, while Edwin Austbo and Tobias Moi scored quick-fire goals in the second half to stun Zagreb.
Pure joy and ecstasy erupted at the full-time whistle as Viking secured their place in the main stage of a European competition for the first time since the 2005/06 UEFA Cup group stage. They will now battle the likes of Napoli, Atletico Madrid and six-time winners Bayern Munich to create more history.
4. Sabah FK
However, few qualification stories will come close to that of Sabah FK of Azerbaijan, who reached the Champions League proper far quicker than the age-old clubs making their debuts in the 2026-27 season. Strikingly, Sabah was founded just eight years ago in 2017 and was granted permission to play in the top flight of the Azerbaijani football league a year later, despite finishing fifth in the second division, only because teams above them either failed or declined promotion.
From there, the fairytale journey started as the club nicknamed ‘The Owl’ eventually won the domestic league title, toppling local giants Qarabag and now knocking on the doors of Europe’s biggest club competition spectacularly. Remarkably, they started their quest to enter the Champions League proper from the first qualifying round. Getting past the challenges of The New Saints, KuPS and Aarhus, they landed a tie against Hapoel Be'er Sheva of Israel in the play-offs.
Like many debutants this season, Sabah felt the level of the competition, suffering defeat in the opening leg and finding themselves 2-1 down at home with just half an hour to go. Still, the side showed they are capable of extraordinary stuff in turning the battle around with late heroics to reach destiny. They became only the second club from Azerbaijan to play the league phase of the Champions League and will compete against Dortmund, Barcelona and English pair Arsenal and Manchester United to preserve memories.