When does the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League start? Key dates for the season ahead

The Champions League is back and for the second year in succession, the 2025-26 season of European soccer’s elite club competition will see a return of the 36-team ‘Swiss model’ which was launched by UEFA last year. The initiative came about to ensure greater competition and more matches between top teams.

As things stand, we know the names of 29 of the 36 teams who will participate in the league stage with the final second legs of the last play-off rounds this week set to establish who advances to the promised land of the UCL with the draw to establish the fixture list scheduled for Thursday next in Monaco.

Instead of being divided into eight groups of four, all 36 teams are now part of a single league table with each team set to play eight matches in the league phase, a change from the previous six. They will face eight different opponents, with four matches at home and four away.

Champions League: schedule for league phase

The top eight teams upon the conclusion of the league stage will progress and play eight rivals who emerge from a play-off round. Sides finishing between 9th and 24th will compete in a playoff round, with the eight victors progressing to the next stage.

The knockout phase matches in the 25-26 Champions League

The league phase draw of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League takes place on Thursday 28 August from Monaco (starting at 6pm local time) and AS.USA will be covering the event live with Roddy bring you all the fixtures as soon as they are revealed.

The 2026 final will be staged at the Puskas Arena (Budapest) on Saturday, May 30.

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