UEFA Champions League 2025/26 season starts today | OneFootball

While four clubs remain focused on the tail end of the 2024/25 season in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, attention has already turned to the new campaign in Europe. The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League officially begins todaywith the opening fixtures of the first qualifying round.

The first match of the new season sees KuPS of Finland take on Moldova’s FC Milsami Orhei, with kick-off set for 4pm. The action continues at 5pm with two more ties: FC Iberia 1999 meet Swedish side Malmö in Georgia, while Armenian outfit FC Noah face FK Buducnost.

Later in the day, FCI Levadia host Rigas FS at 5.30pm. Then, at 6pm, Slovenia’s Olimpija Ljubljana go head-to-head with Kazakh side Kairat.

The evening’s remaining fixtures include KF Drita versus Luxembourg’s Differdange and GI/LÍF Víkingur against Lincoln Red Imps, The New Saints taking on KF Shkendija 79, and Virtus facing Zrinjski Mostar.

The final tie of the day kicks off at 8pm, with Albanian champions Egnatia welcoming Iceland’s Breidablik to Arena Egnatia. All second-leg matches are scheduled for next Tuesday, 15 July.

Conference League Also Gets Underway

UEFA’s third-tier competition, the Europa Conference League, also kicks off today, with two preliminary round fixtures opening the qualifying phase.

Gibraltar’s St Joseph’s take on Northern Irish side Cliftonville in a 5pm kick-off, while Maltese outfit Floriana face Haverfordwest County from Wales at 6.30pm. The remaining 22 first-leg ties will be played this Thursday (10 July).

As a reminder, PSG are the reigning Champions League holders, having lifted the trophy last season, while Chelsea are the current Conference League champions.