Volodar of the Portuguese Cup joins the exclusive club of European teams.
Volodar of the Portuguese Cup Torreense joins the exclusive club of European teams: this season they will lose money in European cups, in which representatives of the other division will be deprived.
The team secured its place in the UEFA League of Europe for the 2026-27 season, having achieved a stunning victory over Sporting Lisbon with a 2:1 result in the final of the National Cup. For the 109-member club, the first great trophy in history.
Having finished third in their division, Torreense has a chance to consolidate their success and make it through the playoffs. Casa Pia became their rival (16th month of the Great Liza). However, after a goalless draw in the first match, Torreense gave up the away game with a 2:0 score, wasting their ticket to the next division.
Reaching the European League brought the modest club from Torres Vedras (located 40 km away from Lisbon) not only fame, but also infrastructure improvements. Their home stadium, which can accommodate around 2,500 spectators, does not meet the requirements of UEFA. Through this club they will hold their home European Cup matches 310 km from home - at the Algarve Stadium near Faro.
Lisa Europe is in stark company: clubs such as Juventus, Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, as well as English Bournemouth, Sunderland and Cristal Palace have already secured tickets to the tournament.
The Torreense fall is rare, but far from unique. The history of European football has seen many examples when teams from the lower divisions have regularly declared themselves on the international stage:.
Zurich (2016): Flew out of the Swiss Super League, and then played in the group stage of the European League in the national Cup.
Vegan Athletic (2013): Won the FA Cup against Manchester City, flew out of the city and remained in their European League group.
Birmingham City (2011): Won the League Cup against Arsenal, but were knocked out of the Premier League. Lisa Europe scored 10 points in the group.
Alemannia Aachen (2004): A team from another Bundesliga reached the 1/16 final of the UEFA Cup after losing the final of the German Cup to Werder Bremen.
Millwall (2004): Reached the FA Cup final, but lost to Manchester United, but were denied a place in the UEFA Cup.
Ipswich Town (2002): Lost from the Premier League, but missed out on the UEFA Cup due to the Fair Play rating.
Guignon (2000): Representative of the French second division shocked PSG in the League Cup final and before the UEFA Cup.
Clubs to Liechtenstein:
Vaduz is a regular participant in European cups and has always dominated the Liechtenstein Cup, while historically playing in the lower leagues of Switzerland (although the French club still made it to the top). Their path in 2012 is a succession of parents and a representative of the third division of Eshen/Mauren.
Now Torreense has a chance to write a bright side in the history of European football, proving that the magic of the cup can be given to the barriers.