Another UEFA Champions League campaign is almost upon us as French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain eye a three-peat in 2026-27.
The last team to win three consecutive Champions League titles was Spanish juggernaut Real Madrid from 2016-18. Dutch giants Ajax (1971-73) and German powerhouse Bayern Munich (1974-76) also achieved the feat in the European Cup era.
The 2026-27 League Phase is scheduled to begin on September 8, 2026 but there is a lot of football to be played before than to determine the final teams set to compete for European supremacy.
With the Champions League returning for its 72nd season, its 35th under its current name and third under the league phase format, Football360 looks ahead to the upcoming campaign, draw dates, format and the qualified teams.
When are the 2026-27 Champions League qualifying rounds and play-offs?
First qualifying round: 7-8 & 14-15 July 2026
Second qualifying round: 21-22 & 28-29 July 2026
Third qualifying round: 4-5 & 11 August 2026
Play-offs: 18-19 & 25-26 August 2026
When is the UEFA Champions League draw?
The draw for the third qualifying round was held on July 20, with the first legs to be staged on August 4-5, and the seconds legs on August 11, 2026.
Play-off round: 3 August 2026
League phase: 27 August 2026
What is the Champions League format?
The UEFA Champions League features a 36-team league phase instead of the traditional group stage, having altered the format in 2024.
Each club play eight matches against eight different opponents – four at home and four away, with rivals drawn from four seeding pots. All 36 teams are ranked in a single league table, with three points awarded for a win and one for a draw.
Once the League phase is complete, the top eight teams advance directly to the Round of 16. Clubs finishing between ninth and 24th enter a two-legged play-off to claim the remaining knockout spots, while sides placed 25th or lower are eliminated from European competition.
From the Round of 16 onwards, the tournament returns to its familiar home-and-away knockout format, culminating in the Champions League final.
Which teams have qualified?
League phase:
England: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool
Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis
Italy: Inter, Napoli, AS Roma, Como
Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Stuttgart
France: Paris Saint-Germain, RC Lens, LOSC Lille
Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord
Portugal: FC Porto, Sporting CP
Belgium: Club Brugge
Czechia: Slavia Prague
Turkiye: Galatasaray
Ukraine: Shakhtar Donetsk
Play-offs:
AEK Athens (Greece), Celtic (Scotland), LASK (Austria), Viking (Norway)
Third qualifying round:
Fixtures after the third-qualifying round draw:
Olympiacos (Greece) v NEC Breda (Netherlands)
Union SG (Belgium) v Bodo/Glimt (Norway)
Sparta Prague (Czechia) v Lyon (France)
(CP – Champions Path / LP – League Path)
Second qualifying round:
Champions Path
Mjallby AIF (Sweden) v Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar)
Larne (Northern Ireland) v Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)
Sabah (Azerbaijan) v KuPS (Finland)
KI (Faroe Islands) v Kauno Žalgiris (Lithuania)
AGF (Denmark) v Lech Poznan (Poland)
Ararat-Armenia (Armenia) v Shamrock Rovers (Republic of Ireland)
Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) v Universitatea Craiova (Romania)
Omonia (Cyprus) v Kairat (Kazakhstan)
Thun (Switzerland) v Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
Vikingur Reykjavík (Iceland) v Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Israel)
Iberia 1999 (Georgia) v Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia)
Egnatia (Albania) v Celje (Slovenia)
League Path
Fenerbahce (Turkiye) v Gornik Zabrze (Poland)
Sturm Graz (Austria) v Hearts (Scotland)
*The second legs will be played on July 28-29, 2026 following the opening legs were held on July 21-22, 2026.
When are the 2026-27 Champions League knockout phase matches?
Knockout phase play-offs: 16-17 & 23-24 February, 2027
Round of 16: 9-10 & 16-17 March, 2027
Quarter-finals: 6-7 & 13-14 April, 2027
Semi-finals: 27-28 April & 4-5 May 2027
Final: 5 June 2027
