The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League marks the 71st edition of Europe's premier club football competition and the 34th season since its rebranding from the European Champion Clubs' Cup. It is the second season under UEFA's new 36-team league phase format.
The final will be played on 30 May 2026 at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary. The winners of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League will automatically qualify for the league phase of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League and will also earn a place in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.
Format
The UEFA Champions League continues with the 36-team league phase format introduced in 2024/25. Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, facing four teams at home and four away. The top eight clubs in the final league standings advance directly to the Round of 16. Teams finishing from 9th to 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs, while teams placed 25th to 36th are eliminated.
The knockout stage consists of two-legged ties from the play-offs through the semi-finals, with the final played as a single match. The format increases the number of high-profile fixtures and makes every league-phase match crucial.
Schedule
The league phase begins on 16 September 2025. The official UEFA schedule is:
| Phase | Round | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying | 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-off round | 19-20 & 26-27 August 2025 | |
| League Phase | Matchday 1 | 16-18 September 2025 |
| Matchday 2 | 30 September-1 October 2025 | |
| Matchday 3 | 21-22 October 2025 | |
| Matchday 4 | 4-5 November 2025 | |
| Matchday 5 | 25-26 November 2025 | |
| Matchday 6 | 9-10 December 2025 | |
| Matchday 7 | 20-21 January 2026 | |
| Matchday 8 | 28 January 2026 | |
| Knockout Phase | Knockout phase play-offs | 17-18 & 24-25 February 2026 |
| Round of 16 | 10-11 & 17-18 March 2026 | |
| Quarter-finals | 7-8 & 14-15 April 2026 | |
| Semi-finals | 28-29 April & 5-6 May 2026 | |
| Final | 30 May 2026 – Puskás Aréna, Budapest |
Rewards for Winning the UEFA Champions League 2025/26
The UEFA Champions League winners receive:
- The iconic UEFA Champions League Trophy
- Significant UEFA prize money (expected to exceed €25 million for the champions before performance and market pool bonuses)
- Automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league phase
- A place in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup
- Qualification for future FIFA club competitions under FIFA regulations
Tickets
UEFA will release ticket information for the 2026 UEFA Champions League Final closer to the event. Ticket sales are expected to be conducted through UEFA's official ticketing portal, with prices varying by category and availability.
Fans should register for updates through UEFA's official channels to receive information about ticket sales, hospitality packages, and supporter allocations.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!