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The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League promises to be one of the most exciting seasons in the competition’s history. With new formats, team debuts and the return of legendary clubs, this season is sure to captivate football fans around the world.
Tournament overview
The 2025/26 season will be the 71st edition of the UEFA Champions League and the 34th since its renaming in 1992. The final will be played on 30 May 2026 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
New tournament format
This season, the UEFA Champions League introduces a new tournament format, replacing the traditional group stage with a “league phase”. The 36 teams will be divided into four pots of nine teams. Each team will play two matches against each of the two teams in each pot, avoiding matches against clubs from their own country or more than two clubs from the same country. The top 8 teams at the end of the league phase go directly to the round of 16, the teams ranked 9th to 24th play in the play-offs, and the clubs ranked 25th and below are eliminated from European competition without the opportunity to enter the Europa League.
Tournament participants
At the moment, 29 teams have secured participation in the league phase, including such giants as:
- Paris Saint-Germain;
- Real Madrid;
- Barcelona;
- Bayern Munich;
- Liverpool;
- Juventus.
Particular attention is drawn to the debut of Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise, as well as the return of Tottenham Hotspur after winning the Europa League.
Women’s Champions League
The 2025/26 season will also mark changes to the women’s competition. For the first time, an 18-team league phase will be introduced, replacing the traditional group stage. In addition, a new secondary tournament, the Women’s Europa League, will be created.
Expert opinion
“In terms of tactical development and the increasing dominance of young players, the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League season looks like a turning point. Teams like PSG and Aston Villa are now perceived as real title contenders, rather than outsiders. In addition, the women’s tournament is becoming no less exciting and competitive than the men’s. Fans can now engage with the tournament like never before, thanks to increased data transparency and a convenient schedule,” says the UEFA football expert.
Champions League clubs are also aiming to secure places in the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The best players from previous Champions League seasons will take part in the 32-team tournament, which will be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, according to the latest news about the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.