{
  "id": 2994263,
  "title": "Champions League fairytale team Bodø/Glimt close to return as 7 playoffs decide full 36-team lineup",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/champions-league-fairytale-team-bod-glimt-close-to-return-as-7",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T10:06:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/soccer/2026/08/24/champions-league-fairytale-team-bodo-glimt-close-to-return-as-7-playoffs-decide-full-36-team-lineup"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Champions League's Cinderella club Bodø/Glimt is poised to return to the 36-team main draw following a 3-1 lead in the final seven playoff selections. The Norwegian fishing town team will face Dutch debutant NEC Nijmegen at their Arctic Circle home on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Norway could see two teams advance as domestic champions Viking takes on Dinamo Zagreb, both teams currently tied at 2-2. This week's final seven playoff matches will determine the final lineups for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League draws. Bodø/Glimt has scored three goals in each of its three games so far, including a 6-5 aggregate win over Union Saint-Gilloise. The team has retained most of its squad, with Denmark forward Kasper Høgh moving to Celtic for £11 million. Bodø/Glimt's path to the main draw includes three games in August's qualifying rounds. The Champions League draw ceremony, where Bodø/Glimt's fate will be decided, will take place on Thursday at 6 p.m. local time in Monaco.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Bodø/Glimt leads 3-1 in final seven playoff selections for Champions League",
    "Dutch debutant NEC Nijmegen awaits Bodø/Glimt at Arctic Circle home",
    "Norway may see two teams advance in final seven playoff matches"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "UEFA sets September 2 deadline for Champions League squad registration",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/uefa-sets-september-2-deadline-for-champions-league-squad-registration",
        "published": "2026-08-24T13:06:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Champions League: UEFA sets September 2 as deadline for squad registration",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/champions-league-uefa-sets-september-2-as-deadline-for-squad",
        "published": "2026-08-24T13:59:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}