Qualified Teams for UEFA Champions League 2025–26 | Full List & Analysis

The stage is officially set for the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 league phase. Featuring a revamped 36-team Swiss-style format, this will be the most inclusive version yet, blending automatic qualifiers with thrilling playoff victors. Here's your breakdown of who’s in and how they got there.

Automatic Qualifiers (29 Teams)

These clubs secured their spots via domestic league performance, European success, or coefficient-based rebalancing:

• Title Holders:

  • Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League winner; also qualified through league, led to rebalancing)

  • Tottenham Hotspur (UEFA Europa League winners)

• England (6 total):

  • Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea

  • Newcastle United (via European Performance Spot)

  • Tottenham (as Europa League winners)

• Spain (5 total):

  • Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Club, Villarreal

• Germany (4):

  • Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund

• Italy (4):

  • Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus

• France (3):

  • Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Monaco

• Netherlands (2):

  • PSV Eindhoven, Ajax

• Portugal (1):

  • Sporting CP

• Belgium (1):

  • Union Saint-Gilloise

• Türkiye (1):

  • Galatasaray

• Czechia (1):

  • Slavia Prague

• Greece (1):

  • Olympiacos (via rebalancing, since PSG qualified through league)

Playoff Path Winners (7 Teams)

These clubs sealed their places via the decisive playoff stage:

Champions Path (5 teams):

• Bodø/Glimt

• Kairat Almaty

• Pafos

• Qarabağ

• Copenhagen

League Path (2 teams):

• Benfica

• Club Brugge

Full Line-Up for the League Phase (36 Teams)

Automatic Qualifiers (29)

• France: Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Monaco

• England: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur

• Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Club, Villarreal

• Germany: Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund

• Italy: Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus

• Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven, Ajax

• Portugal: Sporting CP

• Belgium: Union Saint-Gilloise

• Türkiye: Galatasaray

• Czechia: Slavia Prague

• Greece: Olympiacos

Playoff Winners (7)

• Bodø/Glimt

• Kairat Almaty

• Pafos

• Qarabağ

• Copenhagen

• Benfica

• Club Brugge

What This Means

• Switzerland-style league phase: The 36 teams will enter a single league table, each playing eight matches (4 home, 4 away), facing two opponents from each of four seeded pots. Top 8 go directly to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9–24 play two-legged knockouts to qualify.

• Broader representation: This season introduces several debutants (e.g. Kairat Almaty, Bodø/Glimt, Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise), bringing geographic diversity and novel matchups to the competition.

Final Thoughts

The UEFA Champions League 2025–26 is shaping up to be a landmark season—one that blends tradition with innovation. With debutants joining powerhouse clubs in a high-stakes, expanded format, fans can anticipate more drama, diverse matchups, and unforgettable nights across Europe.

Read More

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