Champions League 2025/26: Full list of 36 teams confirmed and England leads with six clubs
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League lineup is officially set. After the playoff stage wrapped up on Wednesday (27), all 36 teams for this season’s expanded league format are confirmed. The draw to determine fixtures takes place Thursday (28) at 1:00 p.m. (Brasília time).
England Tops the Qualifiers
UEFA’s new format now in its second year continues to favor the top leagues. England leads the way with six representatives:
Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham.
Spain follows with five clubs, including newcomers Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal, while Germany and Italy each boast four teams.
Playoff Surprises and New Faces
Tuesday’s playoff round saw underdogs shine, as Qarabag, Benfica, Club Brugge and Copenhagen secured their spots, eliminating Ferencvaros, Fenerbahce, Rangers and Basel.
The narrowest clash came between Benfica and Fenerbahce, decided by a single goal over 180 minutes.
The biggest surprises are Kairat Almaty (Uzbekistan) and Pafos (Cyprus), both making their Champions League debut after eliminating Celtic and Red Star Belgrade. Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt also joins the league stage for the first time.
Complete List of Qualified Teams by Country
- England: Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle, Tottenham
- Spain: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao
- Germany: Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund
- Italy: Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus
- France: PSG, Olympique de Marseille, Monaco
- Belgium: Union Saint-Gilloise, Club Brugge
- Netherlands: PSV, Ajax
- Portugal: Sporting, Benfica
- Uzbekistan: Kairat, Qarabag
- Cyprus: Pafos
- Denmark: Copenhagen
- Greece: Olympiacos
- Norway: Bodø/Glimt
- Czech Republic: Slavia Prague
- Turkey: Galatasaray
When Does the League Phase Start?
The new league stage replaces the old group format. Each team will play eight matches against opponents from different pots. The top eight teams go directly to the round of 16; those finishing 9th to 24th play an additional playoff to qualify.
- League Stage: September 16, 2025 – January 28, 2026
- Round of 16 Playoffs: February 17 & 24, 2026
- Round of 16: March 10 & 17, 2026
- Quarterfinals: April 7 & 14, 2026
- Semifinals: April 28 & May 5, 2026
- Final: May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary
