Football Trips Conference League: With the German sensation Heidenheim

The clubs for European football trips in the Europa Conference League have been finalized since August 29, 2024 – and among them is the sensational club from the Bundesliga, 1. FC Heidenheim. The team from Ostalb region made a direct leap into the main rounds of the European Cup as a third-tier newcomer – and drew a dream draw in the group stage. 

Straight into Europe. This dream run had only previously been achieved by Wuppertaler SV in 1973 in the UEFA Cup and RB Leipzig as runners-up in the 2017 Champions League.

FSV Mainz 05 was allowed to compete in the UEFA Cup qualifiers in 2005 via a "Wild Card" and thanks to the Fair Play ranking. However, the team of coach idol Jürgen Klopp failed in the playoffs against eventual winner FC Sevilla. 1. FC Heidenheim moved up into the European ranks due to the Champions League reform and Bayer Leverkusen's cup victory (1-0 against Kaiserslautern) and could not be stopped by BK Häcken, the Swedish champion of 2022, in the final stages.

 "We have a team that is finding its footing more and more," said FCH coach Frank Schmidt after the cup success at the South Baden amateur club FC 08 Villingen (4-0). The departures of Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Jan-Niklas Beste (Benfica Lisbon) have so far been absorbed by Heidenheim. They won the first four competitive matches – including the Bundesliga opener at FC St. Pauli (2-0) – all of them.

Heidenheim embraces the football world: Mathias Honsak (left) and Paul Wanner scored the goals that propelled FCH against BK Häcken (3-2) into the group stage of the Europa Conference League. Photo: Imago Images / Eibner 

Football Trips Conference League: The Big Stage for Small Teams

The Europa Conference League is UEFA's newest competition. Established only in 2021, it offers more excitement than many critics believe. While it may be dismissed as "third-rate" in England, many clubs from leagues outside the top 5 in Europe have the chance to shine on the big stage. Like the 2024 winner, Olympiakos Piraeus.

The team of the powerful shipping tycoon Evangelos Marinakis won the Conference League in Athens against AC Fiorentina (1-0 after extra time) and became the first Greek team to win a European Cup. Previously, AS Roma, the inaugural winner of 2022 (1-0 against Feyenoord Rotterdam in Tirana) and West Ham United in 2023 (2-1 against Fiorentina in Prague), had celebrated a title renaissance after decades.

Who will FC Heidenheim face?

The draw for the new group stage (without return matches) gave FCH the tough draw against Chelsea FC at home. Olimpija Ljubljana from Slovenia and FC St. Gallen will also travel to the Voith Arena on the Schlossberg. The Bundesliga club will play away matches at Basaksehir Istanbul, Heart of Midlothian in Scotland, and Pafos FC (Cyprus).

Who will top favorite Chelsea FC play against?

The by far most expensive star ensemble in the 2024/2025 Conference League comes from London. Chelsea FC is entering this competition for the first time with a squad valued at over one billion euros. "The Blues" are among the clubs, along with Ajax Amsterdam, Bayern Munich, Juventus Turin, and Manchester United, that have already won all European Cup competitions.

Chelsea was drawn first by World Cup winner Christian Karembeu on August 30, 2024, and will play at Stamford Bridge against KAA Gent, Shamrock Rovers from Ireland, and FC Noah from Armenia. The away opponents of the two-time Champions League winners are, as mentioned, Heidenheim, FC Astana from Kazakhstan, and Panathinaikos Athens.

Where will the 2025 Europa Conference League final take place?

Wroclaw (Breslau) in Poland will host the final of the third European Cup competition on May 28, 2025. The Miejeski Stadium has a capacity of 45,105 spectators. Polish final ambassador Michael Zwelakow, a former professional at RSC Anderlecht, Olympiakos Piraeus, and Legia Warsaw, promised at the draw on August 30, 2024: "The arena is fantastic. Wroclaw has been waiting for such a game since EURO 2012 and will organize this match perfectly."