The wait is over for fans of the UEFA Champions League! Europe’s most prestigious club competition is finally back on our screens for 2025-26, marking the 71st season of the tournament and the 34th since it was renamed. It kicked off on July 8th and will be ongoing until the final event on May 30th, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary. This elite club competition has been highly anticipated for the drama and glory that’s promised and follows UEFA’s new league-phase format. In this blog we’ll break down everything you need to know, including the six Premier League clubs participating, major changes to the match schedule, and what to look out for so you don’t miss a single moment of Champions League action. Keep reading to find out more!

Which teams are in the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League?

This year’s line-up for the league phase is packed with the fiercest clubs across Europe! England is leading the charge with six clubs: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle. From Spain we have: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club, and Villarreal. Italy has Napoli, Inter, Atalanta, and Juventus, respectively. Then Germany is coming in hot with Bayern München, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Dortmund. There’s also Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, and Monaco representing France. Finally, the draw is rounded out by top teams across Europe including:

●      Netherlands: PSV, Ajax

●      Portugal: Benfica*, Sporting CP

●      Belgium: Club Brugge*, Union Saint-Gilloise

●      Türkiye: Galatasaray

●      Czechia: Slavia Praha

●      Greece: Olympiacos

●      Denmark: Copenhagen*

●      Norway: Bodø/Glimt*

●      Cyprus: Pafos*

●      Kazakhstan: Kairat Almaty*

●      Azerbaijan: Qarabağ*

29 teams qualified automatically, either through their domestic league placing or being holders of the Champions League (Paris Saint-Germain) or UEFA Europa League (Tottenham). Two of the places were filled by the European Performance Spots, while seven slots were determined with qualifying. Many of these teams battled for their spot in the qualifying round, proving that in the Champions League only the most relentless teams will have a shot at European Glory!

When are the league phase matches in the 2025/26 Champions League?

●      Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025

●      Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2025

●      Matchday 3: 21/22 October 2025

●      Matchday 4: 4/5 November 2025

●      Matchday 5: 25/26 November 2025

●      Matchday 6: 9/10 December 2025

●      Matchday 7: 20/21 January 2026

●      Matchday 8: 28 January 2026

When are the knockout phase matches in the 2025/26 Champions League?

●      Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026

●      Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026

●      Quarter finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026

●      Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026

●      Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)

When are the 2025/26 Champions League draws?

●      First qualifying round: 17 June 2025

●      Second qualifying round: 18 June 2025

●      Third qualifying round: 21 July 2025

●      Play-offs: 4 August 2025

●      League phase: 28 August 2025

●      Knockout phase play-offs: 30 January 2026

●      Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final: 27 February 2026

The 2026 Champions League Final

The final will take place at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on May 30th, 2026, marking the first time that the final of Europe's premier club competition will be held in Hungary. UEFA has also announced a necessary change to the schedule for the final. Starting this year, the final will kick off earlier from 21:00 CET to 18:00 CET. This decision was made with fan experience in mind to make the spectacle more accessible globally for younger viewers to tune in, as well as benefiting the teams, host cities, and travelling supporters.

How Does the ‘League Phase’ Format Work in 2025-26?

In only the second year under UEFA’s new structure revamp, the league phase has replaced the old group stage. Instead of eight groups of four, all 36 clubs now sit in one league table. Each team faces eight different opponents, split evenly between home and away fixtures between September 2025 and January 2026. Three points are awarded for a win and one for a draw, but qualification is more complex now. The top eight teams after Matchday 8 progress directly to the round of 16. Clubs finishing between 9th and 24th must negotiate a two-legged play-off to reach the knockouts. The bottom 12 are eliminated entirely, with no second chance in the Europa League. This new format means every point is crucial starting at the very first match, adding even more pressure to the clubs!

Favourites to Look Out for This Season

According to data performed by Opta’s supercomputer, the Premier League sides are expected to be all the focus in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. Liverpool is rated as the most likely winners with a 20.4% chance, and an impressive 95.3% probability of reaching the round of 16. Arsenal isn’t too far behind with a 14.5% chance, while Manchester City, who were the winners in 2023, are in fifth with 8.6%, followed by Chelsea with 7.3%. Newcastle is ranked in ninth place at 3.2%, while Tottenham are back as Europa League champions in 13th place with 1.2%. Overall, Liverpool and Arsenal are expected to dominate across the Premier League clubs, but Spain, Germany and Italy are definitely not going down without a fight!

The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League tournament is finally back, and we can’t wait to witness the high stakes, historic milestones, and intensity that comes with six Premier League sides battling for European glory. With major changes to the league format adding even more pressure to an already high-pressure situation, this season is sure to have us all on the edge of our seats until the final on May 30th, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary! Be sure to check out our huge selection of UEFA Champions League trading cards and stickers, including the all-new 2025-26 Topps Match Attax UEFA Champions League Cards collection at SoccerCards.ca.