What qualifies this story to earn the title of most difficult journey to reach a Champions League? Firstly, for some context, we have to travel to the digital world where this story was first popularised online. Football Manager, the game in which you take over a club from a plethora of options worldwide and guide them to win as much as possible. Many online creators play the game and show their journeys to success. Often choosing their favourite clubs, most of which are very recognisable, as they can bring in more viewers. Then there are the so called ‘FM Challenges’. These are very different to a usual game file save.

Famously we have the likes of Swansea, Cardiff, Wrexham and Newport County plying their trade in the English football league system even though they reside in Wales. These clubs applied and exceptions were made to allow them to compete in a different football league to their own. This has come with positive results with all four of these clubs being at the professional level in England.  

The dream to top all dreams. How often have mates sat around in the pub dreaming of becoming professional footballers? Many players have represented pubs in local football leagues, many players have used pub football to play for a local league team, and some have even gone as far as reaching the lower levels of the football pyramid. What would happen if that local pub team performed to a level so high that they qualify for UEFA competition? This is the story of Bruno’s Magpies, the best pub team in the world.

In one of the most remarkable stories of the season, we have witnessed a fairy tale happen in Sweden. A story not dissimilar to that of Leicester City winning the Premier League. In stark contrast to Leicester’s historical title win, Mjällby AIF resides in the small fishing village of Hällevik, also part of the Sölvesborg Municipality in Blekinge County.

Now, the Champions League has kicked off for the 25/26 season, and the regular names are amongst the competition. Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barcelona and so on. Then you see the name, Pafos FC, who? You may be thinking. Who is this team that has made it to the Champions League proper?

A mild night in the Jetisu region of Kazakhstan produced one of the most remarkable stories in football from the last decade. The once capital city of Kazakhstan, Almaty, brought fever dreams to life with the performance of the football club, Kairat. A nation with a league ranked 34th in the UEFA Coefficient rankings has produced an incredible feat by reaching the Champions League, League Phase.

This is not the first time a Kazakhstan side has reached the promised land. FC Astana appeared in the Champions League in the 2015-16 season, although they did not progress past the group stage. Historically, Astana are the most successful team in Kazakhstan, winning the title on seven occasions.

The last six years will have felt like an eternity for AIK Solna fans. With a last league title coming back in 2018, AIK has fallen victim to Malmö’s sustained dominance of the Allsvenskan in recent times, as the club has found itself languishing with underachievement in the Swedish top-flight.

The Champions League is the holy grail of club football. The best of the best compete at the top level to be crowned champions. Each continent has its own rendition. Europe has the UEFA Champions League. Africa has the CAF, and Asia has the AFC Champions League Elite. Concacaf has the Champions Cup, and South America has the CONMEBOL Libertadores.

The least-spoken-about Confederation, Oceania, has the OFC Champions League. Teams from the most remote places come together to compete for the title of the best club in Oceania.

Serbia, a footballing nation renowned for hooliganism and die-hard fans, you would have seen Champions League and Europa League games on the screen from the country and the first thing you would see is, more than likely, pyrotechnics and a hostile crowd.

Often described as the most dangerous place to travel for an away fan, Serbian football has a dark secret hidden away. This is the story of how a warlord dictated the league system and won.

We’ve all heard of David against Goliath, well this story focuses on David’s younger brother and how he accepted a challenge to compete with the rest of the European Continent. This is the story of Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag (KÍ). A small Faroese fishing town with a passion for football and a desire to mix it with the best Europe has to offer.

Norway, is famous for the Northern Lights, the beautiful coastlines, or perhaps the cold weather. Whatever the case you will know something about this Scandinavian country.

What might become of interest to some people, though, is the football league and how two teams playing out from within the Arctic Circle are leading a charge to the top of the Eliteserien and setting their eyes on European football and glory.