"Sporting" and "Liverpool" before the start of the new season of the Champions League
On Europe’s green fields, millions of football fans are eagerly awaiting an influential competition – the new season of the UEFA Champions League, as reported by Zamin.uz.
For the upcoming 2026-2027 season, the names of the twenty-seven clubs that have earned direct qualification to the league phase under the new format have been officially announced. Following intense battles in the continent’s top domestic leagues, the coveted spots in the tournament have been secured.
Notably, Liverpool’s fifth-place finish in the English Premier League – despite an otherwise unbeaten season – came as a surprise, especially since Aston Villa, who won the Europa League, had already secured their Champions League spot through domestic performance. This unexpected turn gifted a direct qualification to Portugal’s Sporting CP.
Due to the reallocation of quotas, Portuguese representatives now gain direct access to the main phase without needing to go through qualifying rounds. As of now, the following renowned clubs from Europe’s leading nations have confirmed their participation in the continent’s premier tournament:
From England: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Liverpool.
From Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid, and Betis.
From Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Stuttgart.
From Italy: Inter Milan and Napoli.
From France: Paris Saint-Germain, Lens, and Lille.
Additionally, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord from the Netherlands; Porto and Sporting CP from Portugal; Club Brugge from Belgium; Slavia Prague from the Czech Republic; Galatasaray from Turkey; and Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine have also secured direct entry into the league phase.
According to One.uz, the remaining two direct qualification spots in the league phase of the revamped Champions League will go to representatives from Italy’s Serie A.
The final seven remaining places in the league phase will be determined through the intense summer qualifying rounds, promising even more thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes for football fans in the new season.
