About the UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is the most prestigious European international football competition, played each year among the clubs competing in the top divisions. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) organizes the football tournaments.
Real Madrid holds the record for the most titles won with 14 victories.
The tournament itself consists of several stages and begins with five qualifying rounds. According to the total of the two games (home and away), the winner advances to the next qualifying round. Then comes the group stage. The teams are drawn in 8 groups of 4 teams. Next comes the 1/16 finals, 1/8 finals, 1/4 finals, semi-finals and finals. Finals consist of a single match on neutral ground. The stadium for the final match is chosen by the UEFA committee. It must have a UEFA 5-star rating and meet all the requirements.
Champions League 2026/27: Schedule and Match Dates
The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League season runs from July 2026 to June 2027. The league phase starts on September 8 and ends on January 27, 2027. A total of 36 teams will compete, with each team playing eight matches.
2026/27 Champions League League Phase Schedule
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | September 8–10, 2026 |
| Matchday 2 | October 13–14, 2026 |
| Matchday 3 | October 20–21, 2026 |
| Matchday 4 | November 3–4, 2026 |
| Matchday 5 | November 24–25, 2026 |
| Matchday 6 | December 8–9, 2026 |
| Matchday 7 | January 19–20, 2027 |
| Matchday 8 | January 27, 2027 |
The UEFA-published league phase dates are subject to change.
2026/27 Champions League Knockout Stage
After the league phase, teams will continue their fight for a place in the final stages of the tournament.
- Knockout phase play-offs — February 16/17 and 23/24, 2027.
- Round of 16 — March 9/10 and 16/17, 2027.
- Quarter-finals — April 6/7 and 13/14, 2027.
- Semi-finals — April 27/28 and May 4/5, 2027.
- Final — June 5, 2027.
Where Will the 2027 Champions League Final Be Held?
The 2026/27 Champions League final will take place on June 5, 2027, in Madrid. The match will be played at Estadio Metropolitano, the home stadium of Atlético de Madrid.
History of the UEFA Champions League
The European Champion Clubs' Cup was founded in 1955. The inaugural 1955/56 tournament followed a knockout format, with each round consisting of two matches played home and away.
In the 1991/92 season, a group stage was introduced, and from the 1992/93 season onward, the competition became known as the UEFA Champions League.
Since the 2024/25 season, the tournament has been played under a new format featuring a 36-team league phase, replacing the traditional group stage.
The Champions League winner qualifies for the UEFA Super Cup and also secures a place in the following season's Champions League if it has not already qualified through its domestic league.
The winning club keeps the original trophy for 10 months. Since 2009, the original trophy is no longer awarded permanently. Instead, winners receive a full-size replica, while clubs that have won the competition five times in total or three consecutive times are entitled to wear a special UEFA badge of honour.
UEFA Champions League Winners (Recent Seasons)
| Season | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Final held in Budapest, Hungary at Puskás Aréna | Real Madrid 3–1 Manchester City |
| 2024/25 | Final held in Munich, Germany at Allianz Arena (Munich Football Arena) | Paris Saint-Germain 5–0 Inter |
| 2023/24 | Final held in London, England at Wembley Stadium | Real Madrid 2–0 Borussia Dortmund |
| 2022/23 | Final held in Istanbul, Türkiye at Atatürk Olympic Stadium | Manchester City 1–0 Inter |
UEFA Champions League 2027/28
The official schedule for the 2027/28 UEFA Champions League has not yet been announced. UEFA will publish the qualification, draw, and match dates after the conclusion of the 2026/27 season.
Keep an eye on the dates of football tournaments and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.
