The journey to European football’s most coveted trophy has officially begun. UEFA has unveiled the qualifying draws for the 2025/26 Champions League, marking the first step for dozens of hopeful clubs aiming to join Europe’s elite in the league phase. With a new season comes fresh drama, intriguing clashes, and the promise of unforgettable moments for fans and players alike.
The Qualifying Phase: Format and Key Dates
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase features a rigorous knockout format, with teams from across Europe vying for just seven available spots in the league phase. Here’s what you need to know:
Total teams in qualifying: 53
Champions Path: 42 domestic league winners
League Path: 11 high-placed non-champions from stronger leagues
Qualifying rounds:
First qualifying round: 8/9 & 15/16 July 2025
Second qualifying round: 22/23 & 29/30 July 2025
Third qualifying round: 5/6 & 12 August 2025
Play-offs: 19/20 & 26/27 August 2025
League phase start: September 16, 2025
Final: May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
Each tie in the qualifying rounds is played over two legs, home and away. The team with the higher aggregate score advances. If scores are level, extra time and, if needed, penalties will decide the winner.
Standout Fixtures in the First Qualifying Round
The first qualifying round draw, held at UEFA’s House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, set up some fascinating encounters for fans to watch:
- Shelbourne (Ireland) vs Linfield (Northern Ireland): A cross-border rivalry sure to ignite passions.
- Malmö FF (Sweden) vs FC Iberia 1999 Tbilisi (Georgia): Malmö, with their European pedigree, face a tricky away trip.
- FCSB (Romania) vs Inter Club d’Escaldes (Andorra): Romanian giants look to assert their dominance early.
- FK Žalgiris (Lithuania) vs Hamrun Spartans (Malta)
- KuPS Kuopio (Finland) vs FC Milsami Orhei (Moldova)
- The New Saints (Wales) vs KF Shkëndija (North Macedonia)
- Víkingur (Faroe Islands) vs Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar)
- FC Drita (Kosovo) vs FC Differdange 03 (Luxembourg)
- FC Noah (Armenia) vs FK Budućnost (Montenegro)
- Virtus AC 1964 (San Marino) vs HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Ludogorets (Bulgaria) vs Dinamo Minsk (Belarus)
These matchups not only offer a chance for underdogs to shine but also set the stage for potential Cinderella stories as the competition progresses.
How the Draw Works: Seeding and Regulations
UEFA’s draw system is designed to balance competition and fairness:
- Seeding: Teams are seeded based on their UEFA club coefficients, ensuring higher-ranked clubs avoid each other in early rounds.
- Draw procedure: Seeded teams are paired with unseeded teams, with the order of home and away legs decided by draw.
- Political considerations: Clubs from associations with political conflicts are kept apart in the draw.
If the identity of a team isn’t known at the time of the draw (due to ongoing previous rounds), the club with the higher coefficient is provisionally used for seeding purposes.
What’s New in the 2025/26 Champions League?
The 2025/26 season is the second under UEFA’s revamped format, which replaces traditional groups with a single 36-team league table (the “Swiss system”). This means:
- More matches in the league phase
- Broader representation from across Europe
Seven places up for grabs via qualifying, with 29 teams already qualified directly through domestic performance or as titleholders.
What Happens Next?
- The second qualifying round draw will take place shortly after the first, with matches scheduled for late July.
- The road to Budapest will continue through August, culminating in the play-offs that decide the final entrants to the league phase.
- The league phase draw is set for August 28, 2025, in Monaco, where the full lineup for the new-look Champions League will be revealed.
FAQs: UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Qualifying Draws
1. How many teams qualify directly for the 2025/26 Champions League league phase?
Twenty-nine teams qualify directly based on their domestic league performance or as titleholders, with seven more earning their place through the qualifying rounds.
2. When do the Champions League qualifiers start for 2025/26?
The first qualifying round kicks off on July 8/9, 2025, with return legs on July 15/16, 2025.
3. How are teams seeded in the qualifying draws?
Teams are seeded according to their UEFA club coefficients, with seeded teams drawn against unseeded teams to ensure balanced matchups.
4. What is the new Champions League format introduced in 2024/25?
The Champions League now features a 36-team league phase (“Swiss system”) instead of traditional groups, increasing the number of matches and diversity of opponents.
5. Where will the 2026 Champions League final be held?
The final is scheduled for May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.
With the draw now set, anticipation builds as clubs from every corner of Europe prepare to chase their Champions League dreams. The road to Budapest is long and challenging, but for seven teams, the journey starts now—with everything to play for.
