Who are the 36 teams set to participate in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League?
We know the names of the sides who will play in the league format after the remaining seven were decided via final play-off games this week.
Next Thursday, the draw for the matches that form part of the UEFA 26-26 UCL league format will be decided at a gala event in Monaco.
The new expanded (36 teams from 32) league format was introduced for the 2024-25 season and marked a significant change to the competition’s structure in over two decades where the opening round featured a group stage.
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.
Reaction to the new format following its debut was mixed but many fans admitted that they were happy with the excitement the latter games offered.
2025-26 season
Almost 90 days after PSG outclassed Inter in Munich to win their first ever Champions League, the fixtures for the new season league stage are set to be revealed.
Direct Qualifiers (29 teams)
These teams earned their spots based on their performance in their domestic leagues and other UEFA competitions during the previous season.
UEFA Champions League Title Holder:
Paris Saint-Germain (as they also qualified via their domestic league, a spot was rebalanced to another team).
UEFA Europa League Title Holder:
Tottenham Hotspur
Domestic League Performance:
England (4): Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea
Spain (4): Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club
Germany (4): Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund
Italy (4): Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus
France (3): Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Monaco
Netherlands (2): PSV Eindhoven, Ajax
Portugal (1): Sporting CP
Belgium (1): Union Saint-Gilloise
Turkey (1): Galatasaray
Czechia (1): Slavia Prague
European Performance Spots (2):
Newcastle United
Villarreal
Champions League Winner Rebalancing (1):
Olympiacos (This spot was re-allocated because the UCL winner, PSG, had qualified through their league position).
Qarabağ are through to the Champions League proper ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/4s87HgSz3h
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 27, 2025
Play-off path (7 teams)
The remaining seven teams to form the 36 emerged from the final round of playoff games that were staged this week with the second leg games played over Tuesday and Wednesday.
Champions Path (5 winners)
Kairat Almaty
Pafos
Bodø/Glimt
Qarabağ
Copenhagen
League Path (2 winners)
Benfica
Club Brugge
The league phase draw of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League takes place on Thursday 28 August from Monaco and at AS.USA, we will be covering the event live.
The 2026 final will be staged at the Puskas Arena (Budapest) on Saturday, May 30.
🚨 Budapest awarded 2026 Champions League final!
— StadiumDB.com (@StadiumDB) May 22, 2024
🇭🇺🏆 Puskás Aréna will stage the definitive match.
📸 zoltangaborphotography pic.twitter.com/ydE3XS7lFE
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