The biggest club competition in the world is back! The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League promises drama, intensity, and unforgettable moments—and defending champions
Paris Saint-Germain will be determined to retain their crown after a dominant 4-0 win over Inter Milan in last season's final in Munich.
But who are the teams standing in their way this season? Let’s break down every team confirmed to take part in this season’s epic battle for European glory.
🏆 Reigning Champions
Paris Saint-Germain (France)
After clinching their first-ever Champions League title last season, PSG automatically qualify for the group stage. This year, they will aim to go back-to-back with a squad filled with elite talent and a new sense of belief.
🔝 The 'Big Five' League Champions
All five major European leagues are represented by their domestic champions:
Liverpool (England)
Barcelona (Spain)
Bayern Munich (Germany)
Napoli (Italy)
Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Each enters the competition as the top dogs in their respective nations.
🏴 England – 6 Teams
Thanks to a strong UEFA coefficient, the Premier League secured five direct places—plus one through the Europa League.
Liverpool (Champions)
Arsenal
Manchester City
Chelsea
Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur (via Europa League win)
Notable omission: Manchester United misses out after their Europa League final loss.
🇪🇸 Spain – 5 Teams
La Liga also earned a bonus spot via European performance.
Barcelona (Champions)
Real Madrid
Atlético Madrid
Athletic Club
Villarreal
🇮🇹 Italy – 4 Teams
Italy sticks with four teams for this edition.
Napoli (Champions)
Juventus
Atalanta
Inter Milan
Notable misses: AC Milan and Roma.
🇩🇪 Germany – 4 Teams
Bayern Munich (Champions)
Borussia Dortmund (2024 finalists)
Eintracht Frankfurt
Bayer Leverkusen
RB Leipzig and Stuttgart fall short after disappointing seasons.
🇫🇷 France – 3 Teams
Paris Saint-Germain (Champions)
Marseille (Roberto De Zerbi at the helm)
Monaco
Nice and Lille narrowly miss out on the third spot.
🌍 Other Automatic Qualifiers
These clubs have booked their places by winning their national leagues:
Netherlands – PSV Eindhoven, Ajax
Portugal – Sporting CP
Belgium – Union Saint-Gilloise
Turkey – Galatasaray
Czech Republic – Slavia Prague
Greece – Olympiacos
🔄 Champions League Qualifying: Who's Battling for the Final 7 Spots?
🎯 Play-off Round
Top champions from smaller leagues begin their quest here:
Celtic (Scotland)
Basel (Switzerland)
Sturm Graz (Austria)
Bodo/Glimt (Norway)
⚔️ Third Qualifying Round
A mix of league champions and top finishers from bigger leagues:
Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine)
Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Rijeka (Croatia)
Feyenoord (Netherlands – 3rd)
Nice (France – 4th)
Benfica (Portugal – 2nd)
Club Brugge (Belgium – 2nd)
Fenerbahçe (Turkey – 2nd)
⚙️ Second Qualifying Round
League champions:
Copenhagen (Denmark)
Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
Lech Poznań (Poland)
Pafos (Cyprus)
Ferencváros (Hungary)
Qarabağ (Azerbaijan)
Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia)
Second-place teams:
Viktoria Plzeň (Czechia)
RB Salzburg (Austria)
Rangers (Scotland)
Brann (Norway)
Servette (Switzerland)
Panathinaikos (Greece)
🔥 First Qualifying Round
This round featured 28 national champions. The biggest names include:
Malmö (Sweden)
Steaua Bucharest (Romania)
Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria)
❌ Big Names Missing Out
Several historic clubs will not feature in this year’s tournament:
Manchester United – Beaten in Europa League final
AC Milan – Missed out on Serie A top 4
AS Roma – Failed to qualify
RB Leipzig & Stuttgart – Disappointing Bundesliga campaigns
Sevilla – Finished 17th in La Liga
📊 What’s Next?
The final seven teams will emerge from the qualifying rounds to join the 32-team league phase.
This season promises elite matchups, emotional nights, and thrilling drama—all roads lead to the 2026 Champions League Final!
🛍️ Shop & Support
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