Matchday 1 of the Champions League kicks off the 36‑team league phase as European giants prepare for clashes, surprises and new contenders in the search for glory.
Today, September 16, the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase officially begins and will run through January 28, 2026. This is the second year with 36 teams playing eight matches each in a league-style format that replaced the old group stage.
Last season’s champions are Paris Saint-Germain, who claimed their first-ever Champions League trophy by beating Inter Milan in the final. PSG returns this year among the favorites, alongside strong contenders like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Arsenal.
This season also marks a record six English clubs in the competition. With Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur. This is because England was the top country in terms of UEFA coefficient, thus earning an extra spot, and Spurs were also champions of the European League Cup, giving them direct access to Europe’s top club competition.
Matchdays are mostly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but in this first week there will also be matches on Thursday. The games would be spaced throughout the weeks until the league phase ends in January.
After this stage, the top eight clubs advance straight to the round of 16, while teams placed ninth to 24th enter playoffs for the remaining spots in the knockout rounds. The top eight teams will also have the advantage of playing their second leg matches at home.
Four teams will make their debut in the competition, Bodo Glimt, from Norway, Kairat, from Kazakhstan, Pafos, from Cyprus, and Union Saint-Gilloise, from Belgium. Although all four teams are among the least favorites to even make it past the league stage, it will be a luxury for their fans to be able to watch their team take on the European giants.
The journey will conclude with the final, scheduled for May 30, 2026, at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
CREDITS:
Director: Alejandro Bernal
Text: Sathya Sansó Amado
