Back From the Shadows? Roma’s Push for a 2026 Champions League Spot Is Heating Up

Roma might catch one of the Champions League golden tickets. Serie A is one of the European leagues reaching its seasonal end this year, with the first four-placing teams earning an automatic qualifying spot in the coveted Champions League. Among the contestants battling to secure their qualification is a new face. Roma, a team that has not punched their ticket into Europe’s most competitive club soccer league in seven years, is sitting in fourth place. Can the Capital team make it to arguably the highest league in the world? Or will they fall into the same cycle as the last few years?

The capital city-based team last won the Serie A 25 years ago. The Yellow and Reds have not disappeared during that time, having won the UEFA Conference League in 2022 and finishing as runners-up the following year. Nevertheless, their Champions League track record is not exactly exemplary. The first time the Wolves played in the Champions League was in 1983, and since then have totaled 13 participations. The team was steady in the first decade of the 2000s, but afterwards experienced some trouble getting itself back on the European stage. Roma had a brief period of revitalization in 2014 but fell again in 2019. Since then, the team has not reached this level again.

Gian Piero Gasperini, the current head coach of the team, has been in the position since the start of the season. The 68-year-old managed to get his prior team, Atalanta, to the Champions League five times in nine years. If anything, the man knows how to make a team get to this stage. Clearly, his influence is making itself felt, and after a victory over home rivals Lazio today, Roma is taking strides forward towards their goal. The 2-0 win over the White and Sky Blues means that if Roma defeats Verona in their next match, they will qualify for the Champions League.

As the season comes to a close, it is always fun to observe the rising teams. With Roma making its way once more, fans can be sure that it will be an interesting group to watch. However, the season is not yet over, and still many things can happen. The Premier League race is as tight as ever, and the Champions League final is looming on the horizon. Roma is just one more team fighting to make its fans proud.