Pafos FC: From Local Club to Champions League Contender

Wed Oct 22 2025 20:49:01 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Pafos FC, a rising football club from Cyprus, is set to make its Champions League debut just over a decade after its formation, marking a significant milestone in its rapid ascent in European football.

Pafos FC will debut in the UEFA Champions League this season, having advanced through tough qualifying rounds. The club, founded in 2014, has seen significant progress under new management and standout players like David Luiz. Their aim is not just to participate but to leave an impactful mark on the tournament.

Cypriot side Pafos FC will make their Champions League debut on Wednesday - just 11 years after their formation.

The club have made waves in recent years, playing in Europe for the first time last season and reaching the Conference League last 16, as well as winning their first league title.

And this season they have reached another huge milestone by coming through three rounds of qualifying to reach the Champions League proper - one of only two teams, alongside Kazakh outfit Kairat Almaty, making their debut this season.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Dynamo Kyiv, and Red Star Belgrade were all bested by Pafos in qualifying.

Their reward is eight matches in the league phase, including a home game against Bayern Munich and a trip to Chelsea, with their opener set against Olympiakos in Greece.

“Everybody was in ecstasy,” former Brazil and Chelsea defender David Luiz, who joined the club in August, told BBC Sport about the moment Pafos qualified. “Nobody expected us to be in the Champions League this season.”

Founded in 2014 after a merger of two local clubs, Pafos FC began in the second tier of Cypriot football and witnessed a turnaround following a change in ownership and management.

Spaniard Juan Carlos Carcedo took over as manager in June 2023, leading Pafos to their first trophy in his first season and eventually to the league title.

As they prepare for their Champions League journey, Luiz remains optimistic: I think we can do something special. With local support high, fans are ready for an exciting season in Europe.