The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 is set for another long season of European club Soccer, with the competition bringing together the continent’s biggest teams and some of the most exciting matchups in the game. From the opening qualifying rounds to the league phase and knockout stages, clubs will be competing for a place in the final and one of Soccer’s biggest prizes.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the UEFA Champions League 2026-27, including the key dates, new format, qualified teams, qualifying rounds, league-phase schedule and final details. With 36 teams set to compete in the league phase, the road to the final will be packed with important fixtures, major European clubs and plenty of storylines to follow throughout the season.
Here’s your complete guide to the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 — dates, format, qualified teams, and what to expect.
Tournament Overview
The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 will be the 72nd season of Europe’s premier Soccer tournament and the 35th season since it was rebranded from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League. This will also be the third season under the current league phase format, which replaced the traditional group stage in 2024-25.
The season begins on 7 July 2026 with the first qualifying round, while the league phase itself gets underway on 8 September 2026. The competition proper features 36 teams drawn from 53 associations, with a total of 81 clubs involved across the entire tournament including qualifying rounds.
When and Where Is the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 Final?
Mark your calendars! Champions League fans now know where the season will conclude. The final for the 2026-27 season will take place on Saturday, June 5, 2027, at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, which has been home to Atlético de Madrid since 2017.
This isn’t Madrid’s first time hosting Soccer’s biggest club prize. London is the only city to have hosted more Champions League finals than Madrid, and 2027 will mark the Spanish capital’s sixth time staging the showpiece match, with the Metropolitano itself hosting for the second time after Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 there in 2019 to win their sixth European title.
Qualifying Rounds: The Road to the League Phase
Not every club walks straight into the league phase. Twenty-nine teams have qualified directly for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2026-27, with the remaining seven spots to be decided through a qualifying pathway consisting of first-, second-, and third-round qualifying, followed by the play-offs.
From the second qualifying round onwards, the pathway splits into two tracks — the Champions Path for domestic league winners, and the League Path for clubs who qualified via leagues offering more than one Champions League berth. Its association’s club coefficient ranking determines the round at which each team enters.
The qualifying schedule is packed into a tight midsummer window: the first qualifying round is played on 7/8 and 14/15 July 2026, the second qualifying round follows on 21/22 and 28/29 July, the third qualifying round takes place on 4/5 and 11 August, and the decisive play-off round is scheduled for 18/19 and 25/26 August 2026.
League Phase Draw and Matchday Schedule
Once qualifying wraps up, attention turns to the league phase draw. The draw for the 36-team league phase takes place on Thursday 27 August 2026 and will bring together the 29 automatic qualifiers with the seven clubs who come through the play-off round.
As with the previous two seasons, the league phase consists of 36 clubs with each team playing eight matches — four at home and four away — against opponents drawn from four seeding pots.
Here’s the full matchday schedule for the league phase: Matchday 1 is set for 8-10 September 2026, Matchday 2 for 13/14 October, Matchday 3 for 20/21 October, Matchday 4 for 3/4 November, Matchday 5 for 24/25 November, and Matchday 6 for 8/9 December 2026.
The league phase then concludes with Matchday 7 on 19-20 January 2027 and Matchday 8 on 27 January 2027, with all matches on the final day kicking off simultaneously to preserve sporting integrity.
Schedule for 2026-27 UEFA Champions League
| Phase | Round | Draw Date | First Leg / Matchday | Second Leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying | First Qualifying Round | 16 June 2026 | 7–8 July 2026 | 14–15 July 2026 |
| Second Qualifying Round | 17 June 2026 | 21–22 July 2026 | 28–29 July 2026 | |
| Third Qualifying Round | 20 July 2026 | 4–5 August 2026 | 11–12 August 2026 | |
| Play-offs | Play-off Round | 3 August 2026 | 18–19 August 2026 | 25–26 August 2026 |
| League Phase | League Phase Draw | 27 August 2026 | — | — |
| Matchday 1 | — | 8–10 September 2026 | — | |
| Matchday 2 | — | 13–14 October 2026 | — | |
| Matchday 3 | — | 20–21 October 2026 | — | |
| Matchday 4 | — | 3–4 November 2026 | — | |
| Matchday 5 | — | 24–25 November 2026 | — | |
| Matchday 6 | — | 8–9 December 2026 | — | |
| Matchday 7 | — | 19–20 January 2027 | — | |
| Matchday 8 | — | 27 January 2027 | — | |
| Knockout Phase | Knockout Phase Play-offs | 29 January 2027 | 16–17 February 2027 | 23–24 February 2027 |
| Round of 16 | 26 February 2027 | 9–10 March 2027 | 16–17 March 2027 | |
| Quarter-finals | — | 6–7 April 2027 | 13–14 April 2027 | |
| Semi-finals | — | 27–28 April 2027 | 4–5 May 2027 | |
| Final | UEFA Champions League Final | — | 5 June 2027 | Metropolitano Stadium |
How Qualification for the Knockout Stage Works
The format that debuted in 2024-25 continues to reward consistency across the league phase. Teams finishing in the top eight of the 36-team league phase table earn a direct bye into the round of 16, while clubs finishing between 9th and 24th are sent into a knockout phase play-off round.
Teams that finish 9th to 16th will host the second leg of their play-off tie, giving the higher-ranked sides a slight home-field advantage. Anything below 24th place means an early exit from European Soccer altogether for the season.
Knockout Phase Dates
The knockout phase play-offs are scheduled for 16-17 and 23-24 February 2027, followed by the round of 16 on 9-10 and 16-17 March, the quarter-finals on 6-7 and 13-14 April, and the semi-finals on 27-28 April and 4-5 May 2027, before the whole campaign is settled at the final in Madrid on 5 June.
The draw for the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be held on 26 February 2027, with clubs that finished in the top eight of the league phase hosting the second legs of their round of 16 ties.
Qualified Teams So Far
While the full 36-team league phase lineup won’t be confirmed until after the August play-offs, several major clubs have already booked their places. Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are among the clubs already qualified for the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 season, with five Premier League clubs having secured their places early.
Beyond the usual heavyweights, this season’s field is shaping up to be refreshingly competitive. Clubs like Como, Aston Villa and RC Lens highlight just how competitive qualification has become, proving that Europe’s traditional powerhouses no longer hold a monopoly on Champions League football.
Other confirmed qualifiers, though not yet assigned a specific entry round, include a strong contingent of Premier League and continental sides. Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Porto and Union Saint-Gilloise are among the clubs already qualified for Europe, alongside Greek sides AEK Athens, Olympiakos Piraeus, PAOK Thessaloniki and Panathinaikos.
Automatically Qualified Teams
The following 29 teams have secured their places in the league phase, with notable qualifiers including:
- England: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool
- Spain: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Real Betis
- Italy: Inter Milan, Napoli, AS Roma, Como
- Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, VfB Stuttgart
- France: Paris Saint-Germain (Defending Champions), Lens, Lille
- Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord
- Portugal: Porto, Sporting CP
- Belgium: Club Brugge
- Turkey: Galatasaray
- Czechia: Slavia Prague
- Ukraine: Shakhtar Donetsk
Remaining Spots (Qualifying Phase)
The remaining 7 spots are determined through two pathways:
- Champions Path (5 Spots): Featuring league winners from lower-ranked associations, including teams like Celtic and AEK Athens.
- League Path (2 Spots): Involving non-champions from mid-tier leagues, with clubs such as Lyon, Fenerbahçe, and Olympiacos competing.
The Big Storyline: Can PSG Make It Three in a Row?
No preview of the 2026-27 season would be complete without mentioning the reigning champions. Having already retained their crown once, Paris Saint-Germain will look to become the first club since Real Madrid’s famous three-in-a-row run to win three consecutive European Cups. That quest alone should make PSG one of the most closely watched sides throughout the campaign, and their league phase draw in late August will be one of the most anticipated moments of the build-up.
Why the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 Matters
Every Champions League season under the new Swiss-model league phase has produced its share of surprises — historic scoring runs, dramatic finales on the last matchday, and unexpected giant-killings in the play-off rounds. With a stacked qualifying field, a blockbuster final destination in Madrid, and PSG chasing a piece of history, the 2026-27 edition looks set to continue that trend.
Soccer fans should keep an eye on the qualifying rounds throughout July and August 2026, as several notable clubs will have to fight through three rounds of two-legged ties just to reach the group of 36. From there, the road to Madrid begins in earnest on 8 September 2026 — and won’t be settled until the Estadio Metropolitano hosts the final on 5 June 2027.
UEFA Champions League 2026-27 Schedule and Results
First Qualifying Round Results (First Legs)
The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 first qualifying round got underway on 7–8 July 2026, with 28 clubs entering the Champions Path. Several favorites secured important first-leg victories, while a few ties remain evenly poised ahead of the return matches.
Teams Involved
- Champions Path: 28 teams
| Team 1 | Team 2 | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg | Aggregate Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabah Azerbaijan | The New Saints | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | Sabah Azerbaijan |
| Floriana | Shamrock Rovers | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–5 | Shamrock Rovers |
| Flora | Iberia 1999 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–5 | Iberia 1999 |
| Lincoln Red Imps | Inter Club d’Escaldes | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | Lincoln Red Imps |
| Tre Fiori | Larne | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | Larne |
| Ararat-Armenia | Riga | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–3 | Ararat-Armenia |
| Vardar | KuPS | 0–2 | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | 3–4 | KuPS |
| Kauno Žalgiris | Drita | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–3 | Kauno Žalgiris |
| ML Vitebsk | Universitatea Craiova | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–5 | Universitatea Craiova |
| Petrocub Hîncești | Egnatia | 1–1 | 1–6 | 2–7 | Egnatia |
| Borac Banja Luka | Levski Sofia | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–5 | Levski Sofia |
| Víkingur Reykjavík | ETO Győr | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | Víkingur Reykjavík |
| Kairat | Sutjeska | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | Kairat |
| KÍ | Atert Bissen | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | KÍ |
First Qualifying Round Results (Second Legs)
The second-leg matches of the UEFA Champions League 2026-27 First Qualifying Round concluded on July 14 and 15, 2026, with 14 teams advancing to the second qualifying round.
Several matches featured dramatic comebacks and went into extra time, while others were decided by significant aggregate victories.
| Team 1 | Team 2 | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg | Aggregate Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mjällby AIF | Lincoln Red Imps | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | Mjällby AIF |
| Larne | Red Star Belgrade | 0–4 | 0–5 | 0–9 | Red Star Belgrade |
| Sabah | KuPS | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | Sabah |
| KÍ | Kauno Žalgiris | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | Kauno Žalgiris |
| AGF | Lech Poznań | 1–4 | 4–1 (a.e.t.) | 5–5 (4–3 p) | AGF |
| Ararat-Armenia | Shamrock Rovers | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | Ararat-Armenia |
| Levski Sofia | Universitatea Craiova | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | Levski Sofia |
| Omonia | Kairat | 1–0 | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | 1–1 (5–6 p) | Kairat |
| Thun | Dinamo Zagreb | 1–1 | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | 3–4 | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Víkingur Reykjavík | Hapoel Be’er Sheva | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | Hapoel Be’er Sheva |
| Iberia 1999 | Slovan Bratislava | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | Slovan Bratislava |
| Egnatia | Celje | 3–3 | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | 5–5 (1–4 p) | Celje |
| Fenerbahçe | Górnik Zabrze | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | Fenerbahçe |
| Sturm Graz | Heart of Midlothian | 4–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | Sturm Graz |
Teams Qualified for the Third Qualifying Round
| Team 1 | Team 2 | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg | Aggregate Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinamo Zagreb | Kauno Žalgiris | 5–0 | 2–1 | 7–1 | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Mjällby AIF | Slovan Bratislava | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | Slovan Bratislava |
| Levski Sofia | Kairat | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | Levski Sofia |
| AGF | Sabah | 2–1 | 0–4 | 2–5 | Sabah |
| Ararat-Armenia | Celje | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | Celje |
| Hapoel Be’er Sheva | Red Star Belgrade | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | Hapoel Be’er Sheva |
| Olympiacos | NEC | 0–0 | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | 1–2 | NEC |
| Union Saint-Gilloise | Bodø/Glimt | 3–3 | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | 5–6 | Bodø/Glimt |
| Fenerbahçe | Sturm Graz | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | Fenerbahçe |
| Sparta Prague | Lyon | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–4 | Lyon |
Play-off round
| Date | Team 1 | Team 2 | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg | Aggregate Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug / 26 Aug | Levski Sofia | AEK Athens | 18 Aug | 26 Aug | — |
| 19 Aug / 25 Aug | Celtic | LASK | 19 Aug | 25 Aug | — |
| 18 Aug / 26 Aug | Dinamo Zagreb | Viking | 18 Aug | 26 Aug | — |
| 19 Aug / 26 Aug | Slovan Bratislava | Celje | 19 Aug | 26 Aug | — |
| 19 Aug / 25 Aug | Hapoel Be’er Sheva | Sabah | 19 Aug | 25 Aug | — |
| 18 Aug / 26 Aug | Fenerbahçe | Lyon | 18 Aug | 26 Aug | — |
| 19 Aug / 25 Aug | NEC | Bodø/Glimt | 19 Aug | 25 Aug | — |
UEFA Champions League 2026-27 League phase
The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 draw is scheduled for August 27, 2026, with matches taking place from September 8, 2026, to January 27, 2027. The final will be held on June 5, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
| Pot | Team | Country | Coefficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot 1 | |||
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | France | 132.000 |
| 2 | Bayern Munich | Germany | 144.500 |
| 3 | Real Madrid | Spain | 144.500 |
| 4 | Liverpool | England | 130.000 |
| 5 | Inter Milan | Italy | 127.000 |
| 6 | Manchester City | England | 125.500 |
| 7 | Arsenal | England | 119.000 |
| 8 | Barcelona | Spain | 113.250 |
| 9 | Atlético Madrid | Spain | 104.750 |
| Pot 2 | |||
| 10 | Borussia Dortmund | Germany | 100.750 |
| 11 | Roma | Italy | 97.750 |
| 12 | Sporting CP | Portugal | 84.000 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | England | 83.000 |
| 14 | Porto | Portugal | 80.750 |
| 15 | Manchester United | England | 76.500 |
| 16 | Club Brugge | Belgium | 75.250 |
| 17 | Real Betis | Spain | 74.500 |
| 18 | PSV Eindhoven | Netherlands | 71.250 |
| Pot 3 | |||
| 19 | Feyenoord | Netherlands | 71.000 |
| 20 | Lille | France | 68.750 |
| 21 | Napoli | Italy | 63.000 |
| 22 | RB Leipzig | Germany | 61.000 |
| 23 | Villarreal | Spain | 59.000 |
| 24 | Shakhtar Donetsk | Ukraine | 56.250 |
| 25 | Galatasaray | Türkiye | 53.500 |
| Pot 4 | |||
| 26 | Slavia Prague | Czech Republic | 44.000 |
| 27 | VfB Stuttgart | Germany | 27.500 |
| 28 | Como | Italy | 19.989 |
| 29 | Lens | France | 16.699 |