Tirsense? Never heard of them?

Unless you’re Portuguese or a die-hard football romantic, you probably haven’t. But it’s time you did.

Meet Futebol Clube Tirsense, affectionately known as “Os Jesuítas” (The Jesuits), a humble club from the charming town of Santo Tirso, founded on January 5, 1938. They may not have the budget of the big teams or the glitz of the Primeira Liga, but this season, they’re writing one of the most inspiring underdog stories in Portuguese football.

This year, Tirsense made history by becoming the first-ever fourth-tier team to reach the semi-finals of the Taça de Portugal. That’s right—a fourth-division team, standing toe-to-toe with Portuguese football giants.

And guess who they’re up against today?

Benfica, the most decorated club in Portugal. The Goliath.

But before you assume this is just a formality, here’s a little Tirsense magic:
Back in 1948/49, they shocked the nation by defeating Sporting CP 2-1 and knocking the Lisbon giants out of the cup.

And who’s in the other semi-final today? That’s right, Sporting, facing Rio Ave. Déjà vu, anyone?

Here’s another fun fact:

Their stadium, Estádio Abel Alves de Figueiredo, holds 10,000 but feels like 100,000 when the Jesuits’ faithful start singing. Their fans? Loud, passionate, and fiercely loyal. Rumor has it they once brought a live goat to a match as a lucky charm (don’t ask—we don’t know if it worked, but they won).

So don’t miss this fairy tale:

⚽ Tirsense vs. Benfica – Today at 3:45 PM ET / 12:45 PM PT – Only on beIN SPORTS.

Will the Jesuits shock the world again? There’s only one way to find out.
Spoiler alert: this isn’t just a football match—it’s history in the making.