Inter Club d'Escaldes made history on Thursday, August 27, by becoming the first football club from Andorra to qualify for a European competition after defeating Kosovar side FK Drita on penalties at the Estadi de la FAF in Encamp.
The second leg of the Conference League play-off ended goalless after extra time, leaving the tie level at 2-2 on aggregate following the first leg. Striker Faysal Chouaib scored the decisive penalty in the shootout to secure a 4-2 victory for the home team late into the night.
Speaking to Diari d'Andorra, Inter d'Escaldes head coach Felip Ortiz said that the match had a frantic pace but his team managed to secure qualification. Ortiz acknowledged that the squad felt nervous during the penalty shootout while remaining confident, and praised goalkeeper Javi Diaz for his performance during the match.
Founded in 1978, Inter Club d'Escaldes is based in Escaldes-Engordany and is one of the most successful teams in Andorra, holding 13 titles including the Primera Divisio crown won in May 2026. The town is also represented by Atletic Club d'Escaldes and Sporting Club d'Escaldes, the latter owned by French YouTuber Vinsky.
Path through European qualifying
The Andorran champions began their European campaign in Champions League qualifying, where they were eliminated by Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar following a 3-1 loss and a 1-1 draw. Relegated to the Conference League in August, the team defeated Estonian club FC Flora 2-0 and 4-0 before facing FK Drita in the play-off round.
The victory secures Inter Club d'Escaldes a place in the league phase of the 2026-2027 Conference League, UEFA's third-tier continental competition. Andorra, a Pyrenean microstate situated between France and Spain, has never previously had a team reach the main stage of a major European tournament.
Draw details and potential opponents
The club now awaits the draw for the Conference League phase, which takes place on Friday, August 28, at 1:00 p.m. Potential opponents from Pot 1 include European heavyweights Ajax Amsterdam, Braga, Atalanta Bergamo, Freiburg, and AS Monaco, the only French club in the draw.
