FC Winterthur starts with optimism in the Challenge League After four years in the Super League, FC Winterthur faces a new challenge: returning to the Challenge League. President Mike Keller looks back on the past season with mixed feelings but also sees opportunities for the future. ## What does relegation mean for FC Winterthur? FC Winterthur finished the 2025/26 season in 12th place in the Super League with 19 points from 33 games (4 wins, 7 draws, 22 losses). With 35 goals scored and 86 conceded (-51 goal difference), the defense was a major issue. However, Keller emphasizes that relegation also presents an opportunity for sustainable development. "We are grateful and proud that we managed to stay in the top league for four seasons", says Keller. "The new setup in the Challenge League gives us the chance to build a stable organization with a healthy financial situation." ## What happens after relegation? Keller explains that the promotion in 2022 came completely unexpectedly, and the club was not prepared. "Three months earlier, we had concluded in a strategy workshop that we were not ready. We set ourselves a timeframe of three to four years, but then suddenly promotion was confirmed", recalls Keller. Now, FC Winterthur wants to use this time to find long-term solutions. "We are taking relegation as an opportunity to realize a clean and sustainable rebuild", says Keller. ## What are the goals for the new season? FC Winterthur has already shown in a friendly against Union Berlin that it wants to be a factor in the Challenge League. The game ended 1-1, with talent Yannis Odin scoring the temporary lead. "We don’t just want to get promoted; we want to build a sustainable organization", emphasizes Keller. The next opponent in preparation is Yverdon Sport, who will play at home on the Schützi on July 24, 2026.