UEFA has drawn the first and second qualifying rounds, while Arsenal are set for a later start after a proper summer break and a Spain pre-season tour.
LISBON, PORTUGAL - MAY 24: Kim Little and Leah Williamson of Arsenal lift the UEFA Women's Champions League trophy after their team's victory in the UEFA Women's Champions League final match between Arsenal WFC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Jose Alvalade on May 24, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Arsenal will begin their Women’s Champions League 2026/27 campaign in the league phase at the end of September, allowing the players a proper summer break before a pre-season tour to Spain, according to The Gooner and Arseblog.
UEFA drew the first and second qualifying rounds last week. Those rounds are played as mini-groups of four teams, with the winners progressing to the next round. There are two paths, the champions path, reserved for teams who won their domestic league, and the league path, for runners-up and third-placed teams.
First qualifying round draw, champions path only
The champions of Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland enter at this stage.
Group 1 semi-finals
PAOK (GRE) vs Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem (ISR)
Neftçi (AZE) vs Budućnost (MNE)
Group 2 semi-finals
KÍ Klaksvík (FRO) vs Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)
Mitrovica (KOS) vs Zimbru Chişinău (MDA)
Group 3 semi-finals
Pyunik (ARM) vs Wrexham (WAL)
Glentoran (NIR) vs Riga (LVA)
Group 4 semi-finals
Czarni Sosnowiec (POL) vs WFC Nike (GEO)
Athlone Town (IRL) vs Skopje 2014 (MKD)
Group 5 semi-final
Tallinna FC Flora (EST) vs Mġarr United (MLT)
Bye to Group 5 final: Spartak Myjava (SVK)
Semi-finals: 22 July. Finals and third-place matches: 25 July.
Second qualifying round draw
Champions path:
Group 1 semi-finals
Austria Wien (AUT) vs Hajduk Split (CRO)
Mura (SVN) vs Farul Constanța (ROU)
Group 2 semi-finals
Brann (NOR) vs winners of first qualifying round Group 2
Ferencváros (HUN) vs winners of first qualifying round Group 1
Group 3 semi-finals
Dinamo-BSUPC (BLR) vs Servette FCCF (SUI)
Breidablik (ISL) vs Aktobe (KAZ)
Group 4 semi-finals
SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH) vs PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Racing Union Luxembourg (LUX) vs HJK Helsinki (FIN)
Group 5 semi-finals
Metalist 1925 Kharkiv (UKR) vs Fenerbahçe (TUR)
OH Leuven (BEL) vs TSC Bačka Topola (SRB)
Group 6 semi-finals
Vllaznia (ALB) vs winners of first qualifying round Group 5
Apollon LFC (CYP) vs winners of first qualifying round Group 4
Group 7 semi-finals
Gintra (LTU) vs Hearts (SCO)
HB Køge (DEN) vs winners of first qualifying round Group 3
League path:
Group 1 semi-finals
Ajax (NED) vs Brøndby (DEN)
Slavia Praha (CZE) vs Rangers (SCO)
Group 2 semi-finals
Juventus (ITA) vs Torreense (POR)
Hammarby (SWE) vs Apolonia (ALB)
Group 3 semi-finals
Vålerenga (NOR) vs Malmö FF (SWE)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) vs Omonia Nicosia (CYP)
Group 4 semi-finals
Sporting CP (POR) vs SeaSters Odesa (UKR)
St. Pölten (AUT) vs Young Boys (SUI)
Semi-finals: 5 August. Finals and third-place matches: 8 August.
Chelsea enter in the third qualifying round in the league path, while Arsenal and Manchester City enter directly in the league phase alongside Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, Paris FC, Bayern München, Roma, Benfica and BK Häcken.
Arsenal women celebrate scoring an equaliser against Lyon
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
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