Why the UEFA pathway needs to be changed

The Champions League is the dream stage for every European team. It offers a large -magnitude, enhancing the club’s global profile, and acts as evidence that cannot be denied to attract top players – especially if your team plays in one of the top leagues in Europe.

But in recent years, the qualification process has become, in my opinion, unfair. The main cause? The existence of two separate qualifying lines: champion and league pathways.

Path champions are for clubs that won their domestic league but do not qualify automatically for group stage. They face each other’s opportunities to move forward.

The league path, on the other hand, is for strong teams that do not win their league but are still finished high enough to compete for the group stage, teams such as Fenerbahçe, Benfica, Feyenoord, Nice, Panathinaikos, and Club Brugge.

This system was introduced in 2010, it should provide more state representatives in the Champions League.

I understand the intention – expanding good participation for visibility, but the result is that some teams that have been competitive are forced to become brutal battles, while others face much weaker opposition.

For example, a team like Feyenoord might get Benfica in the league, while the Path championship team can face Cyprus or Lithuania champions. It’s not a level play field.

Fenerbahce’s experience

For the Turkish club, up to the Champions League group stage it is rare and valuable.

My club, Fenerbahçe, has struggled to meet the requirements for a mixture of reasons, some are fair, some are unfair. Although I will not make a reason for every loss, our qualification lottery consistently brutally. Just look at the latest history:

• 2013/14: Playoff against Arsenal – At that time, the presence continued in the Champions League.

• 2015/16: The third qualifying round against Shakhtar Donetsk – a dangerous young team even after losing stars to the Premier League.

• 2016/17: The third qualifying round against their best Monaco-season in the 2010s, reached the semi-finals.

• 2018/19: The third qualifying round against Benfica – a club that is almost never eliminated in the qualification.

• 2022/23: The third qualifying round against Dynamo Kiev – Losing is in us.

• 2024/25: The third qualifying round against Lille-four-four finalists, the last 16 in Europe.

• 2025/26: Playoffs … against Benfica. Again.

That’s tiring. Imagine your team have to play the permanent Champions League elite every year just to enter the group stage.

Even before reaching Benfica this year, we had to eliminate Feyenoord – the team that reached 16 last season.

Now, compare with the Playoff Path Champions lottery this season:

• Ferenceváros (Hungary) – UEFA ranked 59 vs Karabakh (Azerbaijan) – rank 65

• Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) – rank 60 vs PAFO (Cyprus) – rank 134

• BodØ/Glimt (Norway) – Ranked 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 League League Playoff Lottery:

Honestly – Who do you like more: PAFO or Brugge club?

What needs to be changed

The Champions League must show the best European team, not just a domestic champion from a weaker league. If not, why do the teams in the fourth place in the Premier League or La Liga must enter altogether?

UEFA can take inspiration from the basketball euroleague, where the team can receive a long -term license or wild card to participate regardless of domestic performance.

If UEFA does not want to go along the license route, then at least cancel the separation between champion and league pathways. If you are truly a champion, prove to anyone, not only the domestic winner is the lower ranking.

Another idea: automatically meets the requirements of all teams that are ranked 20th in UEFA.

This will prevent an absurd scenario like having to beat Benfica, one of the most successful clubs in the Champions League history, only to enter the group stage. The team that expects to treat Benfica like normal qualifying opponents makes no sense.

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Ordinary CounterARGUMENT

Critics often say, “But how will smaller clubs increase if they never get a chance?” Well, UEFA has created a conference league four years ago to help the teams get exposure and develop.

Plus, history shows that many of the “opportunities” teams struggle in the group stage. For example, boys abolish Galatasaray but then get zero points in the group stage.

The current system appreciates ordinary -usually for some and punish ambitions for others. The following hopes that the decision maker at UEFA finally sees an imbalance and take action.

Last note

In my next work, I will shift the gear and talk about football culture in Norwich, because I will say goodbye to the city at the end of this month before starting my London chapter.

But I want to leave this note here, some frustration, some love letters to the Norwich Football Club, before I move.

Main photo

Credit: Imago / defodi image

Recording Date: 31.05.2025