The UEFA Women`s Champions League 2025-26 season marks a significant shift in its format. Moving away from the conventional group stage, the tournament introduces an 18-team league phase, drawing inspiration from the men`s `Swiss model.` In this new structure, each team will play six matches against different opponents, with an equal number of home and away games. The draw for this inaugural league phase is scheduled for Friday, September 19th, in Nyon, Switzerland, commencing at 6:00 AM ET. The event will be broadcast on CBS Sports Golazo Network.
Viewing Information
- Date and Time: Friday, September 19th, at 6:00 AM ET
- Venue: Nyon, Switzerland
- Broadcast Channel: CBS Sports Golazo Network
How the Draw Works
The draw process is designed to determine the fixtures for the new league phase. The eighteen participating clubs will be allocated into three separate pots, each containing six teams. This allocation is based on their club coefficient rankings established at the start of the UWCL season. Arsenal, as the current champions, holds the top seed position in Pot 1.
The draw will employ a hybrid method, combining both manual ball selection from physical bowls and the use of automated software. For each of the three pots, a designated bowl will hold six balls, each representing a team. Clubs will be matched against two opponents from each of the three pots, ensuring one home game and one away game against each pot`s selection.
A key rule is that clubs from the same national association will not be drawn to play against each other. However, a club may face up to two teams from any other single association.
New Format: More Matches, More Drama
With the abolition of the traditional group format, the league phase will operate as a single table competition. Each team will compete in six matches against six distinct opponents. Standard football scoring applies: three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss, determining team rankings.
The four highest-ranked teams will automatically secure a place in the quarterfinals. Teams finishing from fifth to twelfth position will enter a two-legged knockout playoff round to contend for the remaining quarterfinal berths. Teams ranked thirteenth to eighteenth will be eliminated from the competition.
Teams Involved in the Draw
Nine teams have already confirmed their participation in the league phase:
- Arsenal (England, reigning champions)
- Lyon (France)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Wolfsburg (Germany)
- Barcelona (Spain)
- Chelsea (England)
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Juventus (Italy)
The Remaining Teams
The remaining nine spots in the league phase draw have been filled by the winners of the third qualifying round`s second leg matches, which concluded on Thursday:
- Paris FC (France)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Atlético de Madrid (Spain)
- Manchester United (England)
- Roma (Italy)
- Twente (Netherlands)
- Vålerenga (Norway)
- St. Pölten (Austria)
- OH Leuven (Belgium)
2025-26 UWCL Match Dates
League Phase
- Matchday 1: October 7-8
- Matchday 2: October 15-16
- Matchday 3: November 11-12
- Matchday 4: November 19-20
- Matchday 5: December 9-10
- Matchday 6: December 17
Knockout Phase Play-offs
- Draw: December 18 (Nyon, Switzerland)
- First Leg: February 11-12
- Second Leg: February 18-19
Quarterfinals
- Draw: December 18 (Nyon, Switzerland)
- First Leg: March 24-25
- Second Leg: April 1-2
Semifinals
- Draw: December 18 (Nyon, Switzerland)
- First Leg: April 25-26
- Second Leg: May 2-3
Champions League Final
- May 22-24: Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo, Norway)
