Romania Sends Two to Europe: FCSB and Craiova Reach the Continental League Phases

Romanian club football has secured a real foothold on the European stage this season. Both FCSB and Universitatea Craiova have reached the league phases of Europe's club competitions, guaranteeing the country a run of high profile continental fixtures in the months ahead.

Two clubs on the big stage

For Romanian football, having two clubs in the main phases of European competition is a significant achievement. It means more matches against established sides from across the continent, more prize money, and more nights that draw the attention of the wider football world.

The national federation confirmed the milestone. According to the Romanian Football Federation, FCSB and Universitatea Craiova have both made it through to the main phases of the European cups, joining the group of clubs that play on well beyond the summer qualifiers.

Craiova takes the harder road

Getting there was not straightforward for everyone. Universitatea Craiova suffered a setback in the UEFA Europa League playoff, losing the second leg to the Armenian club FC Ararat and missing out on the higher of the two competitions on offer.

That defeat did not end their European campaign, however. Under the UEFA system, a club knocked out at the Europa League playoff stage drops down rather than out, and Craiova moved into the league phase of the Conference League instead.

It is a familiar consolation for many sides. The Conference League, UEFA's third tier competition, still offers a guaranteed run of matches, valuable European revenue and a genuine shot at silverware for clubs outside the very top bracket.

The draws set the fixtures

With qualification settled, attention turned to the draw. The ceremonies that decided the opponents for the Europa League and Conference League league phases were held on Friday, 29 August, mapping out the road ahead for the Romanian clubs.

Those draws matter enormously for planning. They determine not only the calibre of the opposition but the travel, the scheduling and the balance a club must strike between its European ambitions and its domestic campaign back at home.

A busy domestic backdrop

All of this unfolds while the Superliga season is already in full swing. The Romanian top flight ran a packed programme through August, including a heavyweight meeting between CFR Cluj and FCSB and a fixture pitting Craiova against Voluntari.

Balancing both fronts is the real test. Clubs competing in Europe must manage tired legs and squad depth, keeping enough in reserve for the league while chasing results on the continent, a challenge that can quietly define an entire season.

Building on a strong year

The European runs cap a strong recent period for Universitatea Craiova in particular. The club added the 2025-26 Cupa Romaniei to its trophy cabinet, its eighth in the competition, with Universitatea Cluj finishing as the beaten runners up.

That momentum matters heading into Europe. A club arriving on the continental stage on the back of domestic success tends to carry confidence, and Craiova will hope to translate its cup pedigree into results against foreign opposition.

What it means for Romanian football

For the Romanian game as a whole, two clubs in Europe is a marker of health. Regular participation in the league phases raises the country's coefficient, improves future qualifying prospects, and gives its players a stage to test themselves against the very best.