UEFA release full details of 2025/26 Champions League – Matchday dates, when draws are… | OneFootball

All the details of the 2025/26 Champions League.

Something which Newcastle United fans can happily take intense interest in, following an ‘interesting’ final day of the Premier League season.

Of the five Premier League clubs competing for a trio of remaining Champions League places, three of the five lost their matches on Sunday.

Whilst Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest ended up sixth and seventh, thankfully the efforts (and goals!) of the Newcastle United squad proved enough over the full length of the season to take NUFC into fifth and the last remaining Champions League place.

For Newcastle United fans wanting to look ahead to their 2025/26 Champions League season, UEFA have produced this helpful guide to all the key dates.

UEFA official announcement on 2025/26 Champions League:

2025/26 Champions League: Format, dates, draws, final

All you need to know about the 71st season of Europe’s elite club competition.

In 2025/26, Europe’s elite club competition returns for its 71st season and its 34th since it was renamed the UEFA Champions League. It kicks off on 8 July 2025 and runs until the final in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday 30 May 2026.

Twenty-nine teams qualify directly for the league phase, with the final seven spots coming through qualifying, culminating in August’s play-offs. The stage at which the teams enter qualifying is based on their association club coefficient rankings. All ties are played over two legs.

When are the 2025/26 Champions League qualifying rounds and play-offs?

First qualifying round: 8/9 & 15/16 July 2025 Second qualifying round: 22/23 & 29/30 July 2025 Third qualifying round: 5/6 & 12 August 2025 Play-offs: 19/20 & 26/27 August 2025

When are the league phase matches in the 2025/26 Champions League?

Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025 Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2025 Matchday 3: 21/22 October 2025 Matchday 4: 4/5 November 2025 Matchday 5: 25/26 November 2025 Matchday 6: 9/10 December 2025 Matchday 7: 20/21 January 2026 Matchday 8: 28 January 2026

When is the 2025/26 Champions League knockout phase?

Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026 Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026 Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026 Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026 Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)

When are the 2025/26 Champions League draws?

First qualifying round: 17 June 2025 Second qualifying round: 18 June 2025 Third qualifying round: 21 July 2025 Play-offs: 4 August 2025 League phase: 28 August 2025 Knockout phase play-offs: 30 January 2026 Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final: 27 February 2026

The Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, will provide the stage as Champions League action reaches its zenith on 30 May 2026. The stadium also hosted the UEFA Europa League decider in 2023, but this will be the first time that the final of Europe’s premier club competition is held in Hungary.