How you get in
Twenty-nine clubs go straight into the league phase. Seven more come through summer qualifying and August play-offs. Places follow UEFA’s association ranking.
Soccer · 2026–27
Champions League, explained.
Thirty-six clubs. Eight league games. One European champion. Here’s the quick guide.
The UEFA Champions League is Europe’s top club competition: 36 clubs in one league table, then knockouts, ending with a single final.
League contact
Headquarters published by UEFA. For tickets or a specific club, use that club — not the UEFA front desk.
- Headquarters
- Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
Route de Genève 46
Case postale
CH-1260 Nyon 2
Switzerland - Phone
- +41 848 00 2727Front desk
A short history
The competition began as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup in 1955. UEFA renamed it the UEFA Champions League for 1992–93. It is a season-long tournament, not a domestic league. Clubs qualify through their national championships and UEFA’s access list.
The old eight-group format ended after 2023–24. Since 2024–25 every club sits in one 36-team league phase. Paris Saint-Germain are the holders. The 2026–27 final is Saturday, June 5, 2027 at Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
2026–27 league-phase clubs
Thirty-six clubs, drawn into four pots for pairings. Open a club desk for scores and news. The field changes every season.
Pot 1
Pot 2
Pot 3
2026–27 schedule
Qualifying began July 7, 2026. The league phase runs September 8, 2026 to January 27, 2027 — eight matchdays. Knockouts start in February. The final is June 5, 2027 in Madrid.
How the competition works
Thirty-six clubs. Eight league-phase matches. One table.
The league phase
Each club plays eight different opponents — four at home, four away — one from each pot at home and one away. All 36 sit in one ranking.
The table
A win is three points. A draw is one. After eight games, 1–8 go to the round of 16, 9–24 play a knockout play-off, and 25–36 are out.
Scoring
Ninety minutes. The team that scores more goals wins. If it is still level after 90 in a two-leg knockout, extra time and penalties decide it — not away goals.
Tiebreakers
If clubs finish level on points, UEFA ranks them by goal difference, then goals scored, then away goals, then wins, then further opponent-strength and disciplinary tests in the regulations.
No home table
There are no groups and no conferences. One league ranking covers every club from Paris Saint-Germain to the play-off winners.
The season
Qualifying in July and August, league phase September to January, knockouts from February, one final in June.
How the knockouts work
Twenty-four clubs after the league phase. Two-leg ties until the final.
Play-offs
Seeds 9–16 play 17–24 over two legs. In 2026–27 those ties are February 16–17 and 23–24. The eight winners join the top eight.
Round of 16 to semis
The top eight are seeded. They play the play-off winners, then quarter-finals and semi-finals — all two legs. The higher league-phase club hosts the return leg in the last 16.
The final
One match at a pre-chosen stadium. In 2026–27 that is Saturday, June 5 at Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid.
2026–27: Round of 16 March 9–10 and 16–17; quarter-finals April 6–7 and 13–14; semi-finals April 27–28 and May 4–5. Dates can move. Use UEFA’s fixture list.
Office address, 2026–27 dates, format, and the 36 league-phase clubs checked September 24, 2026. Use the official UEFA links if an address, number, or date changes.