Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus will field two teams in the Champions League from 2027 after securing a top-15 position in UEFA’s club coefficient rankings, despite Omonia’s elimination from the Conference League by Rijeka. Results elsewhere ensured no other country can overtake Cyprus for 15th place before the end of the season.
Coefficient ranking secured despite Omonia exit
Omonia exited the Conference League on Thursday night after being eliminated by Croatian side Rijeka. However, aggregate defeats for Scottish champions Celtic against German side Stuttgart in the Europa League, and for Swiss outfit Lausanne-Sport against Sigma Olomouc of the Czech Republic in the Conference League, meant Cyprus’ 15th-place ranking could not be surpassed before the season ends.
Second Champions League berth from 2027/28
With this season’s results set to be added into the coefficient rankings, Cyprus will receive a second berth in the Champions League’s second playoff round from the 2027/28 season. The 2027 league winners and runners-up will enter Europe’s elite competition.
Previous seasons with two Cypriot Champions League entrants
Cyprus previously had two entrants in the Champions League in the 2014/15 season, when Apoel and Ael took part. Apoel, the 2014 league champions, beat HJK Helsinki and Aalborg to reach the group stage, then finished bottom of Group F alongside Ajax, Paris Saint-Germain, and eventual winners Barcelona. Ael lost to Zenit Saint Petersburg in the third qualifying round.
Eight years later, Apollon Limassol and Aek Larnaca entered the Champions League. Aek Larnaca, as league runners-up, entered in the second qualifying round and lost on penalties to Mitjylland. Defending champions Apollon Limassol opened with a 4-0 loss away to Maccabi Haifa and were eliminated the following week despite a 2-0 win in the return leg.
Europa League entry upgraded for Cyprus Cup winners
From 2027, the Cyprus Cup winners will enter the Europa League from the third qualifying round rather than the second qualifying round. If the Cyprus Cup winner finishes in the top two in the league, the Europa League berth will go to the team that finishes third in the league.
How do you think two Champions League places could affect the competitiveness of Cypriot clubs in Europe?