FK Kauno Žalgiris

Futbolo Klubas Kauno Žalgiris calls the Darius and Girėnas Stadium home, a venue with roughly 15,000 seats that has hosted the club since 2015. The team competes in the A Lyga, Lithuania's top football division, and represents the city of Kaunas with a squad often featuring a high percentage of international players. Their journey began in 2004 as FM Spyris Kaunas before evolving through several rebranding phases to reach their current identity in 2016.

Recent years have seen the club step onto the European stage with significant intensity. During the summer of 2026, they navigated the UEFA Champions League qualifiers against GNK Dinamo Zagreb. A scheduling conflict involving a Pitbull concert at their stadium forced the first leg of that tie to move locations. Despite the logistical hurdles, the team faced a tough elimination after losing the aggregate matches, including a 5-0 defeat in Zagreb on August 4, 2026, and a 1-2 loss in the return fixture on August 11, 2026. [edit]

The club traces its roots back to 2004 when it was established as FM Spyris Kaunas. Over the next decade, the organization underwent multiple structural changes and name adjustments as it sought stability in the Lithuanian football landscape. By 2015, the team had secured a long-term lease at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium, providing a consistent base for training and matches. This period of consolidation culminated in 2016 when the entity officially became FK Kauno Žalgiris following a strong debut campaign in the top flight.

European competition remains a key focus for the modern iteration of the club. In the 2026-27 season, they entered the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds and drew GNK Dinamo Zagreb. The first leg required relocation due to a major concert event scheduled at their usual ground. Although the team showed resilience, they were ultimately knocked out by the Croatian side after an aggregate scoreline that included a heavy 5-0 loss away from home. They subsequently moved into the Europa League play-offs to face Beşiktaş JK later that August. [edit]