The 2025–26 season introduces a number of clubs and stadiums to the group stage of UEFA competitions for the first time.
Several grounds that have long served as local football venues, as well as some recently built or renovated stadiums, will now host European matches at this level.
In this article, we will have a look at them.
Go Ahead Eagles – De Adelaarshorst (Netherlands)
De Adelaarshorst, located in Deventer, is the home stadium of Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands. The stadium is able to hold 10,400 people and was built in 1920.
Founded in 1902, the club has a rich history in Dutch football, winning the Eredivisie four times (1917, 1922, 1930, 1933). In 2025, Go Ahead won their first-ever Dutch Cup, which allowed them to participate in the group stage of the Europa League.
Crystal Palace – Selhurst Park (England)
Selhurst Park, opened in 1924, is the home of Crystal Palace FC.
The club has a rich history in English football, with notable achievements including their first FA Cup victory in 2025. Their participation in the UEFA Conference League group stage marks their debut in European competitions.
Hamrun Spartans – Ta’ Qali National Stadium (Malta)
The Ta’ Qali National Stadium is the premier football venue in Malta and serves as the home ground for Hamrun Spartans for their European matches.
Hamrun Spartans became the first and only Maltese club to advance to the group stage of a major European competition after securing their place in the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League.
KuPS – Tammelan Stadion (Finland)
Tammelan Stadion, opened in 2023, is an 8,000-seat football stadium that serves as the home ground for Kuopion Palloseura for European competitions.
KuPS has a rich history in Finnish football with 7 championships and has participated in various European competitions over the years. Their qualification for the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League group stage marks their first appearance in the league phase of a European competition.
Lausanne-Sport – Stade de la Tuilière (Switzerland)
Stade de la Tuilière, inaugurated in 2020, is a modern football stadium located in Lausanne. With a seating capacity of 12,500, it serves as the home ground for FC Lausanne-Sport.
FC Lausanne-Sport, founded in 1896, has a rich history in Swiss football. The club has won the Swiss Championship seven times and the Swiss Cup nine times.
Estadio de Vallecas – Rayo Vallecano (Spain)
Estadio de Vallecas, opened in 1976, is a compact football stadium located in Madrid. With a seating capacity of 14,500, it serves as the home ground for Rayo Vallecano.
Rayo’s first appearance in European competitions came during the 2000–01 season when they reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup. Their qualification for the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League group stage marks their return to European competition for the first time in 25 years.
Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadium – Samsunspor (Turkey)
Samsun 19 May Stadium is a modern football venue with a seating capacity of 33,300 spectators and the home of Samsunspor of Turkey.
The club has a rich history in Turkish football, having spent several seasons in the Süper Lig, the top tier of Turkish football. Their qualification for the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League group stage represents both their debut in European competition and their first appearance in the league phase of a UEFA tournament.
Andruv Stadion – SK Sigma Olomouc (Czech Republic)
Andruv Stadion, located in the city of Olomouc in the Czech Republic, is the home ground of SK Sigma Olomouc.
Sigma Olomouc has participated in several European competitions, through the years reaching the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup in 1992.
In the 2025–26 season, SK Sigma Olomouc qualified for the UEFA Conference League group stage, marking their debut appearance in the league phase of a major European competition.
Stade de la Meinau – RC Strasbourg (France)
Stade de la Meinau, located in Strasbourg, France, has been the home of RC Strasbourg Alsace since its opening in 1914.
RC Strasbourg, founded in 1906, is one of France’s historic football clubs. It is one of six clubs to have won all three major French trophies: the Championship, the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue.
Strasbourg has participated in various European competitions, reaching the quartefinal of the European Cup in 1980.
City Ground – Nottingham Forest (England)
The City Ground has been the home of Nottingham Forest since 1898.
Founded in 1865, Nottingham Forest is one of the oldest football clubs in the world. The club has a storied history, having won two European Cups (now the UEFA Champions League) in 1979 and 1980, making them one of only six English clubs to have claimed the prestigious trophy.
Nottingham’s qualification for the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League group stage marks their return to European competition after a 29-year absence.
