UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Kicks Off Today with First-Round Qualifiers

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League officially begins today as the first qualifying round gets underway across Europe, just 38 days after Paris Saint-Germain’s emphatic 5–0 victory over Inter Milan in last season’s final.

A total of 14 matches are scheduled between today and tomorrow, marking the start of a two-month qualifying journey involving 53 clubs battling for the final seven spots in this season’s newly expanded 36-team League Phase.

While 29 clubs have already secured their place through domestic titles, last season’s European trophies, and performance-based entry (including Newcastle and Villarreal)—the rest will be determined through three qualifying rounds and a play-off round, running from July 8 to August 27.

Today’s fixtures begin with KuPS (Finland) hosting Milsami Orhei (Moldova) at 16:00 BST. That match will be followed by two simultaneous kickoffs at 17:00 BST, with FC Iberia 1999 facing Swedish giants Malmö FF in Georgia, and Armenia’s FC Noah meeting FK Budućnost Podgorica of Montenegro.

Later in the evening, FCI Levadia take on Rigas FS at 17:30 BST, followed by Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Kairat Almaty at 18:00 BST.

The 19:00 BST slot features a flurry of ties: KF Drita vs. FC Differdange 03, The New Saints FC vs. KF Shkendija, and Víkingur vs. Lincoln Red Imps. At 20:00 BST, KF Egnatia host Breidablik, and Virtus meet Zrinjski Mostar.

These matches mark the beginning of the road to the restructured Champions League League Phase, while four other clubs remain engaged in the final stages of the 2024/25 FIFA Club World Cup.