To keep you up to date with every step on the road to the final, your friends at Flashscore have put together everything you need to know about the new and exciting 2026/27 Champions League season.
Champions League 2026/27 qualifying: How does it work?
A total of 29 teams have already qualified directly for the league phase. The remaining seven places will be decided during the qualifying phase, which concludes with the play-offs in August. Clubs enter the competition according to the coefficient of their national federation.
All ties are played over two legs.
Champions League 2026/27 qualifying rounds and play-offs dates
First qualifying round: 7/8 and 14/15 July 2026
Second qualifying round: 21/22 and 28/29 July 2026
Third qualifying round: 4/5 and 11 August 2026
Play-offs: 18/19 and 25/26 August 2026
Champions League 2026/27 league phase: When is it played?
The Champions League 2026/27 league phase will be played across eight matchdays:
Matchday 1: 8–10 September 2026
Matchday 2: 13/14 October 2026
Matchday 3: 20/21 October 2026
Matchday 4: 3/4 November 2026
Matchday 5: 24/25 November 2026
Matchday 6: 8/9 December 2026
Matchday 7: 19/20 January 2027
Matchday 8: 27 January 2027
Champions League 2026/27 knockouts: When are they played?
The Champions League 2026/27 knockout phase will take place on the following dates:
Knockout play-offs: 16/17 and 23/24 February 2027
Round of 16: 9/10 and 16/17 March 2027
Quarter-finals: 6/7 and 13/14 April 2027
Semi-finals: 27/28 April and 4/5 May 2027
Final: 5 June 2027
Champions League 2026/27 draws
The draw dates for the qualifying rounds and league phase are:
First qualifying round: 16 June 2026
Second qualifying round: 17 June 2026
Third qualifying round: 20 July 2026
Play-offs: 3 August 2026
League phase: 27 August 2026
The dates for the knockout phase draws have yet to be confirmed.
Champions League 2026/27 final venue and date
The Estadio Metropolitano, home of Atlético Madrid, will host the 2026/27 Champions League final on Saturday, 5 June 2027.
This will be the second time the stadium has hosted the Champions League final. The first was in 2019, when Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0.