With UEFA’s revamped Champions League format set to debut in the 2025/26 season, excitement is already building as 29 clubs have secured their spots in the upcoming 36-team “league phase.” From elite sides like Real Madrid and PSG to debutants like Union Saint-Gilloise, the landscape is more diverse than ever. But the battle isn’t over — seven more spots are still up for grabs as qualifiers heat up across Europe, and as we’re all registering a new account on MozzartBet, it’s hard not to keep up with each moment. Here’s a closer look at who’s in, who’s on the brink, and how this new format is reshaping European football.
- Automatic spots include the winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League (Paris Saint‑Germain) and Europa League (Tottenham Hotspur), though PSG also qualified via domestic league placing.
- By country allocations:
- England: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea (plus European Performance spot: Newcastle United)
- Spain: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal
- Italy: Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus
- Germany: Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund
- France: PSG, Marseille, Monaco
- Netherlands: Ajax, PSV
- Portugal: Sporting CP
- Belgium: Union Saint‑Gilloise (debut appearance)
- Türkiye: Galatasaray
- Czechia: Slavia Prague
- Greece: Olympiacos (via rebalancing)
- England: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea (plus European Performance spot: Newcastle United)
In total, these clubs represent 29 of the 36 group‑stage spots, with the remaining 7 places to be decided through qualifiers.
How the Qualifying Format Works
According to UEFA:
- The qualification phase runs from 8 July to 27 August 2025, progressing from the first through third qualifying rounds, culminating in a play‑off round.
- From the second round onward, there are two separate paths:
- Champions Path: for domestic league champions who didn’t qualify automatically.
- League Path: for additional high‑placed teams from stronger leagues.
- Champions Path: for domestic league champions who didn’t qualify automatically.
- Winners of play‑off ties earn one of the seven remaining group‑stage spots.
- Teams eliminated during this process are transferred to either the Europa League or Conference League appropriate rounds.
Key Dates:
- First qualifying round: 8/9 & 15/16 July 2025 (draw 17 June)
- Second qualifying round: 22/23 & 29/30 July (draw 18 June)
- Third qualifying round: 5/6 & 12 August (draw 21 July)
- Play‑off round: 19/20 & 26/27 August (draw 4 August)
What’s Happening in the Qualifiers Now
First Qualifying Round (Champions Path)
Held 8–16 July, featured 28 teams including KuPS, Shelbourne, Malmö, Lech Poznań, and others. Remarkable results included:
- Shelbourne knocked out Linfield (agg. 2‑1)
- Malmö advanced with a strong aggregate score
- Dramatic penalty win: Hamrun Spartans beat Žalgiris 11‑10 after aggregate draw.
Second Qualifying Round
Commenced 22–23 July:
Champions Path matchups:
- Malmö vs RFS
- Dynamo Kyiv vs Hamrun Spartans
- Crvena Zvezda vs Lincoln Red Imps
- Ferencváros vs Noah
- Shelbourne vs Qarabağ (Qarabağ won 3–0 away)
… and others.
League Path tie-ups:
- Rangers vs Panathinaikos (Rangers won 2–0 at Ibrox; second leg to follow in Athens)
- Salzburg vs Brann
- Servette vs Viktoria Plzeň.
Third Qualifying Round & Final Play‑offs
Upcoming fixtures in early and mid‑August, followed by play‑offs in late August, to decide the final seven Clubs advancing to the league phase.
At a Glance: Teams Close or Already In
| Category | Details |
| Direct Group‑stage spots | 29 teams, including the top finishers from major leagues and European competition winners |
| Qualified clubs of note | Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool, Barcelona, Olympiacos (via rebalancing), Union Saint‑Gilloise (debut) |
| Qualifying contenders | Shelbourne, Malmö, Copenhagen, Crvena Zvezda, Rangers, Ferencváros, Southampton, others |
| Play‑off contenders | Top performers remaining from both paths (Champions and League) vying for 7 final spots |
- Key early rounds are largely settled, but the higher-stakes third qualifying round and play-offs in August will determine the last entrants.
- Expect tight ties, especially on the League Path, where well-known names like Benfica, Feyenoord, Club Brugge, Nice, Fenerbahçe vie for places alongside Scotland’s Rangers and Austria’s Salzburg.
The group phase draw will take place on 28 August 2025 in Monaco, where the full 36-team structure will be unveiled and match scheduling determined.