Domestic leagues across Europe don finish, except those wey dey follow summer schedule, mostly for north part of continent. With that, we already get clear picture of how 2026-27 Champions League league phase go shape up, as 29 of 36 qualifiers don confirm.
As e dey happen for recent years, Europe biggest leagues get most representatives. England and Spain get five teams each, as both countries earn extra spot because their clubs perform best for European competitions for 2025-26. Italy and Germany go get four teams each. France get three, while Netherlands and Portugal go get two each.
Champions of four other countries—Belgium, Czechia, Turkey, and Ukraine—also earn automatic qualification for league phase. Although plenty familiar names dey list, Como go make their Champions League debut after finish fourth for Serie A. Slavia Prague go take part for first round for just third time for their history.
Fifty-two teams go compete for seven remaining spots, wey go decide through four qualifying rounds. Viking from Norway, AEK Athens from Greece, LASK from Austria, and Celtic from Scotland dey among domestic champions wey must navigate only single two-legged tie to reach league phase. Among clubs wey must start further back be Lyon, Bodø/Glimt, Olympiacos, Red Star Belgrade, and Fenerbahçe. Kairat, wey play for league phase for 2025-26, begin for first qualifying round, meaning dem must win four two-legged ties to repeat that achievement.
Full lineup of 36 teams go confirm on Wednesday, August 26, when second legs of playoff round complete. Draw for league phase go take place on Thursday, August 27.
Liverpool and Real Betis both earn league phase places for next season via European Performance Spots. England and Spain finish for top two of 2025/26 association club coefficients and therefore secure European Performance Spots for next season Champions League league phase. Those two associations each earn one automatic place for league phase—the European Performance Spot—for club ranked next-best for their domestic league behind clubs wey don already qualify directly for league phase.
Both England and Spain get four automatic league phase spots for 2026/27 campaign, meaning teams wey finish for top four for both Premier League and Spanish Liga standings dey assure of places for league phase. Liverpool, wey finish fifth for Premier League, go take England European Performance Spot, while Spain own go go fifth-placed Real Betis.
The 36 spots for 2026/27 league phase go determine as follows: 2025/26 Champions League winner, 2025/26 Europa League winner, England four, Italy four, Spain four, Germany four, France three, Netherlands two, Portugal one, Belgium one, Czechia one, Türkiye one, European Performance Spots two, qualifying rounds champions path five, qualifying rounds league path two.
