All the details of the 2025/26 Champions League as it kicks off today – Matchday dates, when draws are… | OneFootball

The 2025/26 Champions League kicks off today.

The First Qualifying Round first legs starting on Tuesday 8 July, with ten ties today, then more on Wednesday (9 July).

Today you have:

KuPS v Milsami, Iberia 1999 v Malmö FF, Noah v Budućnost, FCI Levadia v Rīgas FS, Olimpija v Kairat, Drita v Differdange, The New Saints v Shkendija, Víkingur v Lincoln Red Imps, Egnatia Rrogozhinë v Breidablik, Virtus versus Zrinjski.

For Newcastle United fans wanting to look ahead to their 2025/26 Champions League season, UEFA have produced this helpful guide below, with all the key dates.

These are the 29 clubs that we already know will take part in the 36 team league phase that starts in September:

Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club, Villarreal, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, Paris St-Germain, Marseille, Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Sporting, Union Saint-Gilloise, Galatasaray, Slavia Prague, Olympiakos

The qualifying process that starts today, will then see seven other clubs added, with all of those known on 27 August 2025, then the next day is the draw for the 36 club league stage, when Newcastle United fans find out the eight clubs their team will face.

So just over seven weeks until the draw (28 August) for the 36 team league stage, then another three weeks until the first matchday of the league phase (16-18 September).

UEFA official details of the 2025/26 Champions League:

2025/26 Champions League: Format, dates, draws, final

All you need to know about the 71st season of Europe’s elite club competition.

In 2025/26, Europe’s elite club competition returns for its 71st season and its 34th since it was renamed the UEFA Champions League. It kicks off on 8 July 2025 and runs until the final in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday 30 May 2026.

How will 2025/26 Champions League qualifying work?

Twenty-nine teams qualify directly for the league phase, with the final seven spots coming through qualifying, culminating in August’s play-offs. The stage at which the teams enter qualifying is based on their association club coefficient rankings. All ties are played over two legs.

When are the 2025/26 Champions League qualifying rounds and play-offs?

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-offs: 19/20 & 26/27 August 2025

When are the league phase matches in the 2025/26 Champions League?

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

When is the 2025/26 Champions League 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 (Budapest)

When are the 2025/26 Champions League draws?

First qualifying round: 17 June 2025 Second qualifying round: 18 June 2025 Third qualifying round: 21 July 2025 Play-offs: 4 August 2025 League phase: 28 August 2025 Knockout phase play-offs: 30 January 2026 Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final: 27 February 2026

Where is the Champions League final in 2026?

The Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, will provide the stage as Champions League action reaches its zenith on 30 May 2026. The stadium also hosted the UEFA Europa League decider in 2023, but this will be the first time that the final of Europe’s premier club competition is held in Hungary.