11 clubs who have played European football in the 21^st Century while outside the top division

 

Portuguese second-tier side Torreense will play in Europe in 2026/27

 

As the final whistle blows in the 2026 Taça de Portugal final in Lisbon, it is confirmed that, against all odds, Torreense SCU are winners of the tournament for the first time in their history.

A 2-1 defeat of giants Sporting CP, who have already won the tournament 18 times and were the cup holders, thanks to goals from striker Kevin Stohi and captain Zopira, means the second-tier outfit’s historic triumph is made even sweeter by the fact that victory in Portugal’s premier cup competition – as is the case with most domestic cups across Europe – guarantees a spot in the Europa League the following season, another first for Torreense.

The minnows are based in the northern Portuguese town of Torres Vedras and boast a stadium which seats 2,500 spectators, so the chances of them being allowed to use their home ground for European matches will be slim.

But the club, known as União among their supporters, now join an elite group of teams which have competed in European competition despite playing outside their nation’s top tier since 2000.

It is worth noting that one notable example in the 20^th century was West Ham United, who won the FA Cup as a second-tier side in 1980 and were quarter-finalists in the now-defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

This list looks at 11 of those teams, how they qualified and how they fared in their competitions.

 

Vestri (Iceland) – Europa League 2026/27

Torreense aren’t the only club to qualify for the 2026/27 Europa League while playing in the second division.

From a village of just 3,000 people in rural Iceland, Vestri FC earned their place in next season’s second-tier European competition by defeating Valur 1-0 in the Icelandic Cup final, not only securing their first major trophy but also making history as the first team from Iceland outside of the top division to qualify for Europe.

 

FC Gueugnon (France) – UEFA Cup 2000/2001

Based in an area of Burgundy with a population of 6,000, FC Gueugnon shocked the world of football in 2000 by defeating Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in the final of the Coupe de France, with the likes of future Premier League favourite Sylvain Distin among their ranks.

Unfortunately for Gueugnon, they were defeated 1-0 on aggregate by Greek side Iraklis in the first round, and ten years later were declared bankrupt. The reformed club now play in the sixth tier of French football.

 

Millwall (England) – UEFA Cup 2004/05

While winners of the FA Cup in England automatically qualify for European football, it was the case for many years that the competition runners-up would qualify for Europe if the winners had already qualified through their league position. This rule remained in place until 2015.

Millwall were one of the beneficiaries of the rule of the time, being runners-up to Manchester United in the 2004 FA Cup final, and were guaranteed of a spot in the following season’s UEFA Cup.

Drawn against Hungarian side Ferencvaros, The Lions lost 4-2 on aggregate with both goals being scored by player-manager Dennis Wise.

 

FC Vaduz (Liechtenstein) – Various competitions, various seasons

Based out of the capital of the European microstate of Liechtenstein, FC Vaduz have spent much of the 21^st century playing their football in the Swiss second division, but were promoted back to the top flight after winning the league in 2025/26.

However, they have won 21 of the last 22 editions of the Liechtenstein Cup, so are regular participants in Europe.

Their best run came in 2022, where they reached the group stages of the newly-formed UEFA Conference League, becoming the first club from Liechtenstein to reach the group stages of a European competition, but they finished bottom of a group also consisting of Cypriot side Apollon Limassol, AZ Alkmaar of The Netherlands and Ukrainian outfit Dnipro-1, collecting just two points.

 

USV Eschen/Mauren (Liechtenstein) – UEFA Cup 2012/13

Another club to qualify by winning the Liechtenstein Cup, USV Eschen-Mauren defeated FC Vaduz against all odds to win the tournament in 2012, and were rewarded with a spot in the Europa League first qualifying round.

Based in the town of Eschen, with less than 5,000 inhabitants, USV were drawn against Icelandic side FH, but fell at the first hurdle, losing home and away.

 

Corvinul Hunedoara (Romania) – UEFA Cup 2007/08

Based in the western Romanian city of Hunedoara, Corvinul were once proud members of the top flight, before falling on hard times and going out of business in 2004, and eventually being revived in 2021.

Successive promotions found them in the second tier in 2023/24, and in their debut season managed to win the Romanian Cup for the first time in its history – even during the original club’s era.

Placed in the Europa League first qualifying round, Corvinul defeated Paksi of Hungary 4-2 on aggregate before losing to Croatian side Rijeka, only to a late second leg goal. Even after dropping down to the UEFA Conference League, the club were defeated home and away by Kazakh champions Astana, and their maiden European voyage was over.

 

Wisla Krakow (Poland) – UEFA Europa League 2024/25

Polish top-flight mainstays Wisla Krakow were relegated to the second tier in 2022, and have just returned to the Ekstraklasa after winning the title in 2025/26.

But during their time in the second tier, they have managed to win the Polish Cup, defeating Pogon Szczecin in the 2024 final, earning them a place in the 2024/25 Europa League.

They defeated Kosovan side Llapi home and away in the first qualifying round, before going down 8-2 on aggregate to Rapid Wien.

 

Birmingham City (England) – UEFA Europa League 2011/12

The Blues famously won the 2011 Carling Cup after victory over Arsenal in the final to win their first ever major trophy.

Even though Birmingham were relegated at the end of the season, they still enjoyed a maiden European campaign while playing in the Championship, and performed admirably.

In a group consisting of Slovenians NK Maribor, Portuguese giants SC Braga and Club Brugge of Belgium, Birmingham defeated Maribor home and away and picked up a win and a draw against Club Brugge. But two defeats to Braga ensured that the competition debutants would bow out in third place, but with an astonishing 10 points.

 

Alemannia Aachen (Germany) – UEFA Cup 2004/05

Second-tier outfit Alemannia Aachen were beaten in the 2004 DFB Pokal final, but were granted a spot in the UEFA Cup as their conquerers Werder Bremen had already qualified for the Champions League having won the Bundesliga in the same year.

Impressively, the club reached the Round of 32, beating Icelandic side FH in the qualifying round and getting out of a tricky group consisting of Lille, Sevilla, Zenit and AEK Athens, before losing to eventual semi-finalists AZ Alkmaar.

 

Wigan Athletic (England) – UEFA Europa League 2013/14

Wigan’s FA Cup win in 2013 was nothing short of remarkable – especially given the fact that their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed three days later.

Similarly to Birmingham two years ago, their first major trophy was achieved in the same season as relegation, and their first-ever European campaign was played out while in the Championship.

Wigan would have an unsuccessful European campaign, finishing bottom of a group with Maribor, Russian side Rubin Kazan and Zulte Waregem of Belgium, despite going unbeaten in their first three matches of the group stage.

 

FC Pasching (Austria) – Europa League 2013/14

Also playing their first European campaign in 2013/14, FC Pasching hold the distinction of being the only third-tier team in this list, having remarkably won the Austrian Cup in 2013, beating giants Austria Salzburg, Rapid Wien, Red Bull Salzburg and Austria Wien along the way, without ever having home advantage.

Their European campaign was less successful, losing home and away to Portuguese outfit Estoril in the playoff round.