The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League is almost here, with Europe’s elite clubs preparing to battle for the biggest prize in European club football.
But when does the Champions League start? How does the new format work? Which teams are involved? When are the key fixtures? And who are the favourites in the Champions League winner betting?
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026/27 Champions League, including the latest fixtures, format, key dates and outright odds.
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When does the Champions League start?
The 2026/27 Champions League league phase starts on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
The opening matchday runs from September 8-10, with 36 teams beginning their campaigns across eight league-phase matchdays.
The Champions League qualifying campaign actually began on July 7, with the final play-off ties completed on August 26 before the league-phase draw was made on August 27.
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| League phase Matchday 1 | September 8-10, 2026 |
| Matchday 2 | October 13-14 |
| Matchday 3 | October 20-21 |
| Matchday 4 | November 3-4 |
| Matchday 5 | November 24-25 |
| Matchday 6 | December 8-9 |
| Matchday 7 | January 19-20, 2027 |
| Matchday 8 | January 27 |
| Knockout play-offs | February 16/17 & 23/24 |
| Round of 16 | March 9/10 & 16/17 |
| Quarter-finals | April 6/7 & 13/14 |
| Semi-finals | April 27/28 & May 4/5 |
| Champions League final | June 5, 2027 |
What is the Champions League format?
The Champions League continues with the league phase format introduced in 2024/25, replacing the old group-stage system.
There are 36 teams in one overall league table rather than eight groups of four.
Every club plays eight different opponents, with four matches at home and four away. Teams are drawn against two opponents from each of the four seeding pots, playing one home and one away from each pot.
There are no traditional groups and, importantly, teams do not play the same opponent twice during the league phase.
How do teams qualify for the Champions League knockout stages?
The final league table determines who progresses:
- 1st-8th: Automatically qualify for the Round of 16
- 9th-24th: Enter the knockout phase play-offs
- 25th-36th: Eliminated from European competition
The teams finishing 9th-16th are seeded in the play-off draw, while those finishing 17th-24th are unseeded. The play-offs are played over two legs.
The eight play-off winners then join the eight teams that qualified automatically in the Round of 16.
From there, the competition follows the familiar knockout format through the quarter-finals and semi-finals before the final.
Which teams are in the Champions League 2026/27?
The 36 teams competing in the league phase include five English clubs, five Spanish clubs, four from both Italy and Germany, and two each from Portugal, the Netherlands and Turkey.
Champions League 2026/27 teams
In total, 16 different nations are represented by clubs in the UEFA Champions League this season.
- England: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United
- Spain: Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Real Betis, Real Madrid, Villarreal
- Italy: Como, Inter Milan, Napoli, Roma
- Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Stuttgart
- France: Lens, Lille, Paris Saint-Germain
- Portugal: Porto, Sporting CP
- Netherlands: Feyenoord, PSV
- Turkey: Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray
- Norway: Bodø/Glimt, Viking
- Austria: LASK
- Belgium: Club Brugge
- Czechia: Slavia Prague
- Greece: AEK Athens
- Slovakia: Slovan Bratislava
- Ukraine: Shakhtar Donetsk
- Azerbaijan: Sabah
Champions League fixtures 2026/27
The opening round of fixtures includes some huge games, with Real Madrid vs Inter Milan, Porto vs Manchester City, Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid, Napoli vs Arsenal and PSG vs Slovan Bratislava among the standout ties on MD1.
Matchday 1
- AEK Athens vs LASK
- Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
- Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal
- Porto vs Manchester City
- Lille vs Real Betis
- Real Madrid vs Inter Milan
- Barcelona vs Feyenoord
- Stuttgart vs Viking
- Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid
- PSG vs Slovan Bratislava
- Sporting CP vs Galatasaray
- Napoli vs Arsenal
- Fenerbahçe vs Roma
- PSV vs Shakhtar Donetsk
- Como vs RB Leipzig
- Bayern Munich vs Bodø/Glimt
- Manchester United vs Sabah
- Slavia Prague vs Lens
The entire list of UCL fixtures can be found on the UEFA website.
Champions League outright odds 2026/27
Last season’s finalists top the betting for the 2026/27 Champions League with PSG 5/1 to successfully defend their European title. Beaten finalists Arsenal are 6/1 alongside Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The record 15-time winners Real Madrid are 13/2, with Man City at 9/1. Liverpool are 12/1 to win a seventh European crown, while Manchester United are available at 20’s.
When is the Champions League final?
The 2027 Champions League final will take place on Saturday, June 5, 2027.
Where is the Champions League Final being hosted?
The final will be played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, home of Atlético Madrid. It will be the second Champions League final hosted at the stadium, following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham there in 2019.
What Irish players will feature in the Champions League?
Sadly, Troy Parrott is likely to be the only Irish player to see minutes in the upcoming UEFA Champions League season. Parrott’s Real Betis will face Lille (A), Porto (H), Feyenoord (H), Dortmund (A), Slovan Bratislava (A), FC Como (H), Arsenal (H) and Bayern Munich (A) in the league phase.
Former Cork City goalkeeper Liam Bossin is currently the backup goalkeeper at Dutch club Feyenoord. What a story it would be if he ended up on the pitch facing Parrott in Seville on October 21.
Champions League 2026/27 FAQs
When does the Champions League 2026/27 start?
The Champions League league phase begins on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The qualifying rounds began in July.
How many teams are in the Champions League?
There are 36 teams in the league phase.
How many games does each team play?
Every team plays eight league-phase matches, four at home and four away.
How many teams qualify for the Round of 16?
The top eight teams qualify automatically, while another eight places are decided through the knockout phase play-offs involving teams finishing 9th-24th.
When is the Champions League final?
The 2027 Champions League final is on Saturday, June 5, 2027.
Where is the Champions League Final?
The final will be played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, the home of Atletico Madrid.
Who is favourite to win the Champions League?
PSG are the current betting favourites, followed by Barcelona and Arsenal in the latest outright market.
What channel is the Champions League on?
Irish football fans have a range of viewing options when it comes to live Champions League matches with RTE, Virgin Media, Premier Sports, and TNT Sports all broadcasting action from the 2026/27 competition.
