2025/26 Champions League: Who qualifies for the league phase as it is now?

Brief Overview:

Over the years, there have been changes in the competition's format (UEFA Champions League)—it started off as a straight knockout format and made its way to being a one-off group stage. There are still several formats missing, but this was just a glimpse to show you that Europe's most-worshipped competition has been ever-changing.

UEFA recently introduced a new format called the Swiss Model and scrapped the old traditional group stage format. The Swiss model typically involves 36 teams in one big league. Each team gets to play an opponent four times, unlike the group stage, which included eight groups of four teams playing a total of six group stage matches.

How does the new format work?

• A total of eight teams that perform well in the league phase are granted safe passage to the Round of 16.
• Teams that finish in 9th place and 24th place get to play two-legged play-offs joining the top eight teams in the Round of 16.

• The remaining 12 teams are eliminated from the competition.

Champions League Predictions

Who Qualifies for the 2025/26 Champions League - League Phase?

Let's find out who gets to qualify for the 2025/26 Champions League - League Phase.

1. Domestic League Champions and Runners-up

The top leagues in Europe are the ones that get the most spots for next season's Champions League. These leagues include clubs from countries such as England, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The top four teams get safe passage to the league phase.

France, on the other hand, gets to see the top three teams qualify. 

1. Qualifying Rounds

There are several mid-tier clubs in countries such as the Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, and Croatia that get to qualify through the qualifying rounds.

However, there are two paths to consider when it comes to achieving such a feat:

• Champions Path - this is for teams that won the championship in their respective domestic leagues.
• League Path - this is for teams that either finished second or third and fourth in some cases.

1. Bonus Spots

When it comes to bonus spots, only two spots are reserved for teams that performed exceptionally well in European competitions. It can be any club from a country such as Spain or England etc.

1. Europa League Champion

If a team manages to win the 2024-25 Europa League, it won't matter if they finish as the best or worst team in their own league as this will grant them safe passage to the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. 

1. Champions League Winner

As mentioned above, in point number four, the same applies to the team that wins the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League. 

Who's In for Now?

From the information available at the moment, a total of ten teams have already qualified for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, and you can expect to see them in the 36-team table next season. Let's find out who made the cut:

1. Spain

• Athletic Club 
• Atletico Madrid 
• Barcelona 
• Real Madrid 
• Villareal 

1. England

Two teams have only been confirmed for England, but do expect Arsenal to make the cut.

• Liverpool
• Manchester City
• Arsenal
• Newcastle United
• Chelsea

1. Germany

• Bayern Leverkusen 
• Bayern Munich
• Leipzig
• Eintracht Frankfurt

1. France 

• Paris Saint-Germain
• Marseille
• Monaco

1. Italy

• Atalanta
• Inter Milan
• Bologna
• Napoli

1. Netherlands

• Ajax

• PSV Eindhoven

How do teams qualify? 

It might still be a little confusing to some as to how these teams qualify for the new UEFA Champions League format. Worry not. We have it covered with this easy breakdown:

•  A total of 25 teams automatically qualify through their league position.
• 2 places are reserved for teams that emerged as winners of the Champions League and Europa League.
• 2 places are awarded to clubs in Spain and England. However, that won't always be the case always as these spots are awarded to clubs that perform well in Europe.
• 7 teams will have to earn their spot in the 36-team table through the qualifying rounds.

Key Dates:

Stay up to date with these key dates for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League matches;

• Qualifying rounds: July 8, 2025
• League phase draw: August 28, 2025
• League phase begins: September 16, 2025
• Final: May 30, 2026 (Puskas Arena in Budapest).