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2025–26 UEFA Champions League

Updated: Wikipedia source

2025–26 UEFA Champions League

The 2025–26 UEFA Champions League is the 71st season of Europe's premier club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 34th season since it was rebranded from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League. The final will be played on 30 May 2026 at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary. The stadium previously hosted the 2020 UEFA Super Cup, several matches of UEFA Euro 2020, and the 2023 UEFA Europa League final. The winners of the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League will automatically qualify for the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League league phase, the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup final, the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup group stage, and earn the right to play against the winners of the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. This is the first Champions League season to feature six clubs from one nation, with England earning an extra spot through UEFA coefficient ranking and Tottenham Hotspur having won the previous season's UEFA Europa League. Paris Saint-Germain are the defending champions, having secured their maiden title the previous season.

Infobox

Dates
Qualifying: 8 July – 27 August 2025 Competition proper: 16 September 2025 – 30 May 2026
Teams
Competition proper: 36 Total: 82 (from 53 associations)
Matches played
188
Goals scored
653 (3 per match)
Attendance
8,316,661 (44,238 per match)
Top scorer(s)
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) 15 goals

Tables

1
1
Rank
1
Association
England
Coeff.
104
Teams
4
Notes
+1 (EPS) +1 (EL)
2
2
Rank
2
Association
Italy
Coeff.
90
3
3
Rank
3
Association
Spain
Coeff.
89
Teams
+1 (EPS)
4
4
Rank
4
Association
Germany
Coeff.
86
5
5
Rank
5
Association
France
Coeff.
66
6
6
Rank
6
Association
Netherlands
Coeff.
61
Teams
3
7
7
Rank
7
Association
Portugal
Coeff.
56
Teams
2
8
8
Rank
8
Association
Belgium
Coeff.
48
9
9
Rank
9
Association
Turkey
Coeff.
38
10
10
Rank
10
Association
Czech Republic
Coeff.
36
11
11
Rank
11
Association
Scotland
Coeff.
36
12
12
Rank
12
Association
Switzerland
Coeff.
32
13
13
Rank
13
Association
Austria
Coeff.
32
14
14
Rank
14
Association
Norway
Coeff.
31
15
15
Rank
15
Association
Greece
Coeff.
31
16
16
Rank
16
Association
Denmark
Coeff.
31
Teams
1
17
17
Rank
17
Association
Israel
Coeff.
31
18
18
Rank
18
Association
Ukraine
Coeff.
28
19
19
Rank
19
Association
Serbia
Coeff.
27
Rank
Association
Coeff.
Teams
Notes
1
England
104
4
+1 (EPS) +1 (EL)
2
Italy
90
3
Spain
89
+1 (EPS)
4
Germany
86
5
France
66
6
Netherlands
61
3
7
Portugal
56
2
8
Belgium
48
9
Turkey
38
10
Czech Republic
36
11
Scotland
36
12
Switzerland
32
13
Austria
32
14
Norway
31
15
Greece
31
16
Denmark
31
1
17
Israel
31
18
Ukraine
28
19
Serbia
27
20
20
Rank
20
Association
Croatia
Coeff.
25
Teams
1
21
21
Rank
21
Association
Poland
Coeff.
25
22
22
Rank
22
Association
Russia
Coeff.
22
Teams
0
23
23
Rank
23
Association
Cyprus
Coeff.
22
Teams
1
24
24
Rank
24
Association
Hungary
Coeff.
21
25
25
Rank
25
Association
Sweden
Coeff.
21
26
26
Rank
26
Association
Romania
Coeff.
21
27
27
Rank
27
Association
Bulgaria
Coeff.
20
28
28
Rank
28
Association
Azerbaijan
Coeff.
20
29
29
Rank
29
Association
Slovakia
Coeff.
19
30
30
Rank
30
Association
Slovenia
Coeff.
13
31
31
Rank
31
Association
Moldova
Coeff.
13
32
32
Rank
32
Association
Kosovo
Coeff.
11
33
33
Rank
33
Association
Kazakhstan
Coeff.
11
34
34
Rank
34
Association
Finland
Coeff.
11
35
35
Rank
35
Association
Republic of Ireland
Coeff.
10
36
36
Rank
36
Association
Armenia
Coeff.
10
37
37
Rank
37
Association
Latvia
Coeff.
10
38
38
Rank
38
Association
Faroe Islands
Coeff.
10
Rank
Association
Coeff.
Teams
Notes
20
Croatia
25
1
21
Poland
25
22
Russia
22
0
23
Cyprus
22
1
24
Hungary
21
25
Sweden
21
26
Romania
21
27
Bulgaria
20
28
Azerbaijan
20
29
Slovakia
19
30
Slovenia
13
31
Moldova
13
32
Kosovo
11
33
Kazakhstan
11
34
Finland
11
35
Republic of Ireland
10
36
Armenia
10
37
Latvia
10
38
Faroe Islands
10
39
39
Rank
39
Association
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Coeff.
10
Teams
1
40
40
Rank
40
Association
Liechtenstein
Coeff.
10
Teams
0
41
41
Rank
41
Association
Iceland
Coeff.
9
Teams
1
42
42
Rank
42
Association
Northern Ireland
Coeff.
9
43
43
Rank
43
Association
Luxembourg
Coeff.
8
44
44
Rank
44
Association
Lithuania
Coeff.
8
45
45
Rank
45
Association
Malta
Coeff.
8
46
46
Rank
46
Association
Georgia
Coeff.
7
47
47
Rank
47
Association
Albania
Coeff.
7
48
48
Rank
48
Association
Estonia
Coeff.
7
49
49
Rank
49
Association
Belarus
Coeff.
6
50
50
Rank
50
Association
North Macedonia
Coeff.
6
51
51
Rank
51
Association
Andorra
Coeff.
5
52
52
Rank
52
Association
Wales
Coeff.
5
53
53
Rank
53
Association
Montenegro
Coeff.
5
54
54
Rank
54
Association
Gibraltar
Coeff.
4
55
55
Rank
55
Association
San Marino
Coeff.
1
Rank
Association
Coeff.
Teams
Notes
39
Bosnia and Herzegovina
10
1
40
Liechtenstein
10
0
41
Iceland
9
1
42
Northern Ireland
9
43
Luxembourg
8
44
Lithuania
8
45
Malta
8
46
Georgia
7
47
Albania
7
48
Estonia
7
49
Belarus
6
50
North Macedonia
6
51
Andorra
5
52
Wales
5
53
Montenegro
5
54
Gibraltar
4
55
San Marino
1
· Association team allocation › Distribution
First qualifying round (28 teams)
First qualifying round (28 teams)
Col 1
First qualifying round (28 teams)
Col 2
28 champions from associations 25–27 and 30–55 (except Liechtenstein)
Second qualifying round (30 teams)
Second qualifying round (30 teams)
Col 1
Second qualifying round (30 teams)
Col 2
Champions Path (24 teams)
Teams entering in this round
8 champions from associations 16–24 (except Russia) 2 champions from associations 28 and 29 as the teams with the highest club coefficients, originally from the first qualification round
Teams advancing from the previous round
14 winners from the first qualifying round
League Path (6 teams)
League Path (6 teams)
Col 1
League Path (6 teams)
Col 2
6 runners-up from associations 10–15
Third qualifying round (20 teams)
Third qualifying round (20 teams)
Col 1
Third qualifying round (20 teams)
Col 2
Champions Path (12 teams)
Teams advancing from the previous round
12 winners from the second qualifying round (Champions Path)
League Path (8 teams)
League Path (8 teams)
Col 1
League Path (8 teams)
Col 2
3 runners-up from associations 7–9 1 third-placed team from association 6 1 fourth-placed team from association 5
Teams entering in this round
3 winners from the second qualifying round (League Path)
Play-off round (14 teams)
Play-off round (14 teams)
Col 1
Play-off round (14 teams)
Col 2
Champions Path (10 teams)
Teams entering in this round
4 champions from associations 11–14
Teams advancing from the previous round
6 winners from the third qualifying round (Champions Path)
League Path (4 teams)
League Path (4 teams)
Col 1
League Path (4 teams)
Teams entering in this round
4 winners from the third qualifying round (League Path)
League phase (36 teams)
League phase (36 teams)
Col 1
League phase (36 teams)
Col 2
UEFA Europa League title holders 2 associations with the highest coefficients from the previous season receive an extra Champions League league phase berth. 10 champions from associations 1–10 6 runners-up from associations 1–6 5 third-placed teams from associations 1–5 4 fourth-placed teams from associations 1–4 1 champion from association 1
Teams entering in this round
5 winners from the play-off round (Champions Path) 2 winners from the play-off round (League Path)
Knockout phase play-offs (16 teams)
Knockout phase play-offs (16 teams)
Col 1
Knockout phase play-offs (16 teams)
Teams entering in this round
16 teams ranked 9–24 from the league phase
Round of 16 (16 teams)
Round of 16 (16 teams)
Col 1
Round of 16 (16 teams)
Teams entering in this round
8 teams ranked 1–8 from the league phase 8 winners from the knockout phase play-offs
Teams entering in this round
Teams advancing from the previous round
First qualifying round (28 teams)
28 champions from associations 25–27 and 30–55 (except Liechtenstein)
Second qualifying round (30 teams)
Champions Path (24 teams)
8 champions from associations 16–24 (except Russia) 2 champions from associations 28 and 29 as the teams with the highest club coefficients, originally from the first qualification round
14 winners from the first qualifying round
League Path (6 teams)
6 runners-up from associations 10–15
Third qualifying round (20 teams)
Champions Path (12 teams)
12 winners from the second qualifying round (Champions Path)
League Path (8 teams)
3 runners-up from associations 7–9 1 third-placed team from association 6 1 fourth-placed team from association 5
3 winners from the second qualifying round (League Path)
Play-off round (14 teams)
Champions Path (10 teams)
4 champions from associations 11–14
6 winners from the third qualifying round (Champions Path)
League Path (4 teams)
4 winners from the third qualifying round (League Path)
League phase (36 teams)
UEFA Europa League title holders 2 associations with the highest coefficients from the previous season receive an extra Champions League league phase berth. 10 champions from associations 1–10 6 runners-up from associations 1–6 5 third-placed teams from associations 1–5 4 fourth-placed teams from associations 1–4 1 champion from association 1
5 winners from the play-off round (Champions Path) 2 winners from the play-off round (League Path)
Knockout phase play-offs (16 teams)
16 teams ranked 9–24 from the league phase
Round of 16 (16 teams)
8 teams ranked 1–8 from the league phase 8 winners from the knockout phase play-offs
Qualified teams for 2025–26 UEFA Champions League · Association team allocation › Teams
League phase
League phase
Entry round
League phase
Entry round
Paris Saint-Germain (1st)TH
Teams
Tottenham Hotspur (EL)
Teams
Liverpool (1st)
Teams
Arsenal (2nd)
Manchester City (3rd)
Manchester City (3rd)
Entry round
Manchester City (3rd)
Entry round
Chelsea (4th)
Teams
Newcastle United (5th)EPS
Teams
Napoli (1st)
Inter Milan (2nd)
Inter Milan (2nd)
Entry round
Inter Milan (2nd)
Entry round
Atalanta (3rd)
Teams
Juventus (4th)
Teams
Barcelona (1st)
Real Madrid (2nd)
Real Madrid (2nd)
Entry round
Real Madrid (2nd)
Entry round
Atlético Madrid (3rd)
Teams
Athletic Bilbao (4th)
Teams
Villarreal (5th)EPS
Bayern Munich (1st)
Bayern Munich (1st)
Entry round
Bayern Munich (1st)
Entry round
Bayer Leverkusen (2nd)
Teams
Eintracht Frankfurt (3rd)
Teams
Borussia Dortmund (4th)
Marseille (2nd)
Marseille (2nd)
Entry round
Marseille (2nd)
Entry round
Monaco (3rd)
Teams
PSV Eindhoven (1st)
Teams
Ajax (2nd)
Sporting CP (1st)
Sporting CP (1st)
Entry round
Sporting CP (1st)
Entry round
Union Saint-Gilloise (1st)
Teams
Galatasaray (1st)
Teams
Slavia Prague (1st)
Olympiacos (1st)
Olympiacos (1st)
Entry round
Olympiacos (1st)
Play-off round
Play-off round
Entry round
Play-off round
Entry round
CH
Teams
Celtic (1st)
Teams
Basel (1st)
Teams
Sturm Graz (1st)
Teams
Bodø/Glimt (1st)
Third qualifying round
Third qualifying round
Entry round
Third qualifying round
Entry round
LP
Teams
Nice (4th)
Teams
Feyenoord (3rd)
Teams
Benfica (2nd)
Teams
Club Brugge (2nd)
Fenerbahçe (2nd)
Fenerbahçe (2nd)
Entry round
Fenerbahçe (2nd)
Second qualifying round
Second qualifying round
Entry round
Second qualifying round
Entry round
CH
Teams
Copenhagen (1st)
Teams
Maccabi Tel Aviv (1st)
Teams
Dynamo Kyiv (1st)
Teams
Red Star Belgrade (1st)
Rijeka (1st)
Rijeka (1st)
Entry round
Rijeka (1st)
Entry round
Lech Poznań (1st)
Teams
Pafos (1st)
Teams
Ferencváros (1st)
Qarabağ (1st)
Qarabağ (1st)
Entry round
Qarabağ (1st)
Entry round
Slovan Bratislava (1st)
LP
LP
Entry round
LP
Entry round
Viktoria Plzeň (2nd)
Teams
Rangers (2nd)
Teams
Servette (2nd)
Teams
Red Bull Salzburg (2nd)
Brann (2nd)
Brann (2nd)
Entry round
Brann (2nd)
Entry round
Panathinaikos (2nd)
First qualifying round
First qualifying round
Entry round
First qualifying round
Entry round
CH
Teams
Malmö FF (1st)
Teams
FCSB (1st)
Teams
Ludogorets Razgrad (1st)
Teams
Olimpija Ljubljana (1st)
Milsami Orhei (1st)
Milsami Orhei (1st)
Entry round
Milsami Orhei (1st)
Entry round
Drita (1st)
Teams
Kairat (1st)
Teams
KuPS (1st)
Shelbourne (1st)
Shelbourne (1st)
Entry round
Shelbourne (1st)
Entry round
Noah (1st)
Teams
RFS (1st)
Teams
Víkingur Gøta (1st)
Zrinjski Mostar (1st)
Zrinjski Mostar (1st)
Entry round
Zrinjski Mostar (1st)
Entry round
Breiðablik (1st)
Teams
Linfield (1st)
Teams
Differdange 03 (1st)
Žalgiris (1st)
Žalgiris (1st)
Entry round
Žalgiris (1st)
Entry round
Hamrun Spartans (1st)
Teams
Iberia 1999 (1st)
Teams
Egnatia (1st)
Levadia Tallinn (1st)
Levadia Tallinn (1st)
Entry round
Levadia Tallinn (1st)
Entry round
Dinamo Minsk (1st)
Teams
Shkëndija (1st)
Teams
Inter Club d'Escaldes (1st)
The New Saints (1st)
The New Saints (1st)
Entry round
The New Saints (1st)
Entry round
Budućnost Podgorica (1st)
Teams
Lincoln Red Imps (1st)
Teams
Virtus (1st)
Entry round
Teams
League phase
Paris Saint-Germain (1st)TH
Tottenham Hotspur (EL)
Liverpool (1st)
Arsenal (2nd)
Manchester City (3rd)
Chelsea (4th)
Newcastle United (5th)EPS
Napoli (1st)
Inter Milan (2nd)
Atalanta (3rd)
Juventus (4th)
Barcelona (1st)
Real Madrid (2nd)
Atlético Madrid (3rd)
Athletic Bilbao (4th)
Villarreal (5th)EPS
Bayern Munich (1st)
Bayer Leverkusen (2nd)
Eintracht Frankfurt (3rd)
Borussia Dortmund (4th)
Marseille (2nd)
Monaco (3rd)
PSV Eindhoven (1st)
Ajax (2nd)
Sporting CP (1st)
Union Saint-Gilloise (1st)
Galatasaray (1st)
Slavia Prague (1st)
Olympiacos (1st)
Play-off round
CH
Celtic (1st)
Basel (1st)
Sturm Graz (1st)
Bodø/Glimt (1st)
Third qualifying round
LP
Nice (4th)
Feyenoord (3rd)
Benfica (2nd)
Club Brugge (2nd)
Fenerbahçe (2nd)
Second qualifying round
CH
Copenhagen (1st)
Maccabi Tel Aviv (1st)
Dynamo Kyiv (1st)
Red Star Belgrade (1st)
Rijeka (1st)
Lech Poznań (1st)
Pafos (1st)
Ferencváros (1st)
Qarabağ (1st)
Slovan Bratislava (1st)
LP
Viktoria Plzeň (2nd)
Rangers (2nd)
Servette (2nd)
Red Bull Salzburg (2nd)
Brann (2nd)
Panathinaikos (2nd)
First qualifying round
CH
Malmö FF (1st)
FCSB (1st)
Ludogorets Razgrad (1st)
Olimpija Ljubljana (1st)
Milsami Orhei (1st)
Drita (1st)
Kairat (1st)
KuPS (1st)
Shelbourne (1st)
Noah (1st)
RFS (1st)
Víkingur Gøta (1st)
Zrinjski Mostar (1st)
Breiðablik (1st)
Linfield (1st)
Differdange 03 (1st)
Žalgiris (1st)
Hamrun Spartans (1st)
Iberia 1999 (1st)
Egnatia (1st)
Levadia Tallinn (1st)
Dinamo Minsk (1st)
Shkëndija (1st)
Inter Club d'Escaldes (1st)
The New Saints (1st)
Budućnost Podgorica (1st)
Lincoln Red Imps (1st)
Virtus (1st)

References

  1. Liechtenstein (LIE): The seven teams affiliated with the Liechtenstein Football Association (LFV) all play in the Swiss
  2. Russia (RUS): On 28 February 2022, Russian football clubs and national teams were suspended from FIFA and UEFA competiti
  3. "Budapest to host UEFA Champions League Final 2026"
    https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/028d-1af2f49f754f-b64e255ef0ae-1000/
  4. "2020 UEFA Super Cup: Bayern 2–1 Sevilla"
    https://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/match/2030206--bayern-vs-sevilla/
  5. "Sevilla beat Roma on penalties in 2023 Europa League final"
    https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0281-181a935e8ce6-17919284e4f1-1000/
  6. "Premier League set to have SIX clubs in Champions League"
    https://www.premierleague.com/news/4303879
  7. "Regulations of the UEFA Champions League, 2024/25 Season"
    https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Champions-League-2024/25-Online
  8. UEFA
    https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/country/#/yr/2024
  9. BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/60560567
  10. "UEFA decisions for upcoming competitions relating to the ongoing suspension of Russian national teams and clubs. However this could change depending on what happens"
    https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0275-150c9887cacb-882c686f407f-1000/
  11. UEFA Circular Letter
    https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0283-1874e7570089-f2d5555be979-1000/20230707_circular_2023_36_en.zip
  12. The Athletic
    https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4523470/2024/04/22/champions-league-format-new-2024/
  13. AP News
    https://apnews.com/article/uefa-champions-league-format-c4eab40e77053bfbfbc8efd6bb1ac48f
  14. "UEFA Club Competitions 2024/25 onwards: new league phase draw procedures explained"
    https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/028f-1b7f80216368-4c26e95cc15b-1000/
  15. "Welcome to Kairat Almaty: the Champions League's easternmost fixture"
    https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/welcome-to-kairat-almaty-the-champions-leagues-easternmost-fixture
  16. "Kairat Almaty create piece of Champions League history after win over Celtic and it may never be topped"
    https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news/champions-league/champions-league-kairat-almaty-celtic-scottish-premiership-kazakhstan-855308-20250826
  17. "Farthest distance travelled between competitors in the football (soccer) UEFA Champions League"
    https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/411285-farthest-distance-travelled-between-competitors-in-the-football-soccer-uefa-cha
  18. "Kairat Almaty make record-breaking trip for historic night"
    https://sports.yahoo.com/article/kairat-almaty-record-breaking-trip-133000075.html
  19. "Pafos, Bodo/Glimt join Kairat among CL debutants"
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c80dnj4nxkzo
  20. "Champions League play-off second legs round-up: Bodø/Glimt, Kairat Almaty, Pafos through to league phase"
    https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/029c-1e931fa13243-5c80263021e5-1000/
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