UEFA Champions League 2026-27: Teams, Fixtures, and Viewing Details

The UEFA Champions League returns with the 2026-27 season as Paris Saint-Germain aims for a third consecutive title. The French giants, managed by Luis Enrique, have secured back-to-back European trophies and will face tough competition from clubs like Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Manchester United making their comeback. Newcomers Viking FK and Sabah will also make their Champions League debuts this season.

The format includes 36 teams in the league phase, where each club plays eight different opponents—half at home and half away.

How to Watch the Champions League in Australia

Stan Sport holds the Australian broadcast rights, streaming every match live and on demand throughout the entire 2026-27 season.

The 36 Teams Participating in the League Phase

• AEK Athens (GRE)
• Arsenal (ENG)
• Aston Villa (ENG)
• Atlético Madrid (ESP)
• Barcelona (ESP)
• Bayern München (GER)
• Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
• Borussia Dortmund (GER)
• Club Brugge (BEL)
• Como (ITA)
• Fenerbahçe (TUR)
• Feyenoord (NED)
• Galatasaray (TUR)
• Inter (ITA)
• LASK (AUT)
• Leipzig (GER)
• Lens (FRA)
• Lille (FRA)
• Liverpool (ENG)
• Manchester City (ENG)
• Manchester United (ENG)
• Napoli (ITA)
• Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
• Porto (POR)
• PSV (NED)
• Real Betis (ESP)
• Real Madrid (ESP)
• Roma (ITA)
• Sabah (AZE)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
• Slavia Praha (CZE)
• Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
• Sporting CP (POR)
• Stuttgart (GER)
• Viking (NOR)
• Villarreal (ESP)

Australian Players and Teams to Watch

Nestory Irankunda may experience some big moments as Sporting CP faces off against Barcelona, Manchester United, and Manchester City. Sporting will host Barcelona at Estadio Jose Alvalade and welcome Manchester United, Galatasaray, and LASK. Away games include trips to Manchester City, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Lens.

Jordan Bos's Feyenoord has an intriguing schedule with matches against Barcelona, Real Betis, Galatasaray, and Viking FK, another team featuring Australians. At home, Feyenoord will face Inter Milan, Porto, RB Leipzig, and Como. Bos, recovering from a World Cup injury, might encounter fellow Socceroos Gianni Stensness and Nick D’Agostino when facing Viking FK.

Viking FK, debuting in the Champions League, includes Socceroos Gianni Stensness and Nick D’Agostino. They will host Bayern Munich and welcome PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, and Sabah. Away matches will take them to Atlético Madrid, Aston Villa, Napoli, and Stuttgart.

Antonio Arena, an Australian-born Italy youth international, has been named in Roma's Champions League squad.

Champions League Format

The tournament now uses a 36-team league phase instead of traditional groups, a change introduced in 2024. Each team plays eight matches against eight unique opponents, four at home and four away. Teams are seeded into four pots and ranked in one table, earning three points per win and one for a draw.

After the league phase, the top eight teams move straight into the Round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th enter a two-legged playoff for remaining knockout spots. Those below 24th are knocked out of European competition.

League Phase Match Dates

• Matchday 1: 8-10 September 2026
• Matchday 2: 13-14 October 2026
• Matchday 3: 20-21 October 2026
• Matchday 4: 3-4 November 2026
• Matchday 5: 24-25 November 2026
• Matchday 6: 8-9 December 2026
• Matchday 7: 19-20 January 2027
• Matchday 8: 27 January 2027

Key Fixtures for Matchday 1 (September 8-10, 2026)

• Tuesday, 8 Sept (Wednesday 9 Sept AEST): AEK Athens vs LASK, Club Brugge vs Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal, Porto vs Manchester City, Lille vs Real Betis, Real Madrid vs Inter
• Wednesday, 9 Sept (Thursday 10 Sept AEST): Barcelona vs Feyenoord, Stuttgart vs Viking, Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava, Sporting CP vs Galatasaray, Napoli vs Arsenal
• Thursday, 10 Sept (Friday 11 Sept AEST): Fenerbahçe vs Roma, PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk, Como vs Leipzig, Bayern München vs Bodø/Glimt, Manchester United vs Sabah, Slavia Praha vs Lens

Venue and Date of the Final

The final will be held at Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano on Saturday, June 5, 2027 (Sunday, June 6, 2027 AEST).