The UEFA Women’s Champions League returns for the 2026/27 season as Europe’s biggest club competition enters its second year under the 18-team league phase format.
Qualifying is complete and the 18-team league phase begins on 22 September 2026, with six matchdays deciding which clubs progress to the knockout rounds. Barcelona enter the competition as defending champions, while Arsenal, Chelsea and reigning WSL champions Manchester City represent England.
This guide is your complete hub for the 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League, including upcoming fixtures, results, the league phase standings, qualified teams, competition format, key dates and links to our latest match previews and coverage. The page will be updated throughout the season as the race to the 2027 final in Warsaw develops.
Women’s Champions League 2026/27: Quick Facts Table
| Category | Information |
| Season | 2026/27 |
| Teams in league phase | 18 |
| League phase matches | 6 |
| Final Venue | National Stadium, Warsaw |
| Final Date | 28, 29 or 30 May 2027 |
| Defending champions | FC Barcelona |
Women’s Champions League 2026/27 League Phase Teams
The 18 teams competing in the 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase have been confirmed following the conclusion of qualifying.
- Arsenal (England)
- Austria Wien (Austria)
- Barcelona (Spain)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Chelsea (England)
- Häcken (Sweden)
- HB Køge Women (Denmark)
- Inter (Italy)
- Juventus (Italy)
- Manchester City (England)
- OH Leuven (Belgium)
- OL Lyonnes (France)
- Paris FC (France)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Roma (Italy)
- Servette (Switzerland)
England has three representatives in the league phase: Arsenal, Chelsea and reigning WSL champions Manchester City.
Each club will play six different opponents during the league phase, with three matches at home and three away. The top four teams qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while teams finishing fifth to 12th enter the knockout phase play-offs.
Upcoming Women’s Champions League Fixtures
Watch all games on Disney+
September 22, 2026
- Inter Milan vs BK Häcken – 18:45 CEST
- Bayern Munich vs Manchester City – 18:45 CEST – Match Preview
- Real Madrid vs PSG – 21:00 CEST
- Arsenal vs HB Koge – 21:00 CEST
- Juventus vs Benfica – 21:00 CEST
September 23, 2026
- OH Leuven vs AS Roma – 18:45 CEST
- Servette FC vs OL Lyonnes – 18:45 CEST
- FC Barcelona vs Paris FC – 21:00 CEST
- Chelsea vs Austria Wien – 21:00 CEST
How Does the Women’s Champions League Format Work?
The Women’s Champions League uses an 18-team league phase format introduced by UEFA in 2025/26.
Instead of traditional groups, all 18 teams compete in one overall league table. Each club plays six matches against six different opponents, with three games at home and three away.
The top four teams automatically qualify for the quarter-finals, while clubs finishing between fifth and twelfth enter knockout phase play-offs. Teams finishing between 13th and 18th are eliminated.
The new system was introduced to create more competitive fixtures and increase the number of meaningful matches throughout the season.
Want a more detailed breakdown? Read our complete Women’s Champions League Format Explained guide.
How Does Qualification Work?
The Women’s Champions League qualification system combines direct league phase places with a multi-round qualifying process.
Nine clubs qualify automatically through UEFA’s access list, while the remaining teams compete through either the Champions Path or League Path qualification routes.
The qualification rounds begin in July and continue through August before the final league phase lineup is confirmed in September.
Read our full Women’s Champions League Qualification Explained guide for a detailed breakdown of the qualification process.
Key Dates for the Women’s Champions League 2026/27
The competition begins in July 2026 and concludes with the final in Warsaw in May 2027.
| Stage | Date |
| First Qualifying Round | 22-25 July 2026 |
| Second Qualifying Round | 5-8 August 2026 |
| Third Qualifying Round | 26 August & 2 September 2026 |
| League Phase Draw | 4 September 2026 |
| League Phase Begins | 22 September 2026 |
| League Phase Ends | 16 December 2026 |
| Knockout Phase Play-offs | February 2027 |
| Quarter-finals | March-April 2027 |
| Semi-finals | May 2027 |
| Final | 28, 29 or 30 May |
Road to Warsaw: Women’s Champions League Final 2027
The 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League season will conclude at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. It will be the first UEFA women’s club competition final to be staged in Poland and marks another milestone in the growth of women’s football across Europe.
The stadium opened in 2012 and has hosted numerous major UEFA events, including matches during UEFA EURO 2012, the UEFA Europa League final and the UEFA Super Cup. The final is scheduled to take place on either 28, 29 or 30 May 2027. The winners will lift the Women’s Champions League trophy and secure a place in the league phase of the 2027/28 competition.
Latest Women’s Champions League 2026/27 Updates
Bayern Munich vs Manchester City
Manchester City begin their 2026/27 Women’s Champions League campaign away to Bayern Munich on Tuesday 22 September.
[Read our Bayern Munich vs Manchester City preview]
Arsenal vs HB Køge
Arsenal begin their league-phase campaign against HB Køge as they look to make a strong start in Europe.
[Read our Arsenal vs HB Køge preview]
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are in the Women’s Champions League league phase?
The league phase consists of 18 teams, with nine qualifying directly and nine coming through the qualification rounds.
How many matches does each team play?
Each team plays six league phase matches against six different opponents.
Where is the 2027 Women’s Champions League final?
The final will be played at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.
When does the league phase begin?
The first league phase matches will be played on 22 and 23 September 2026.
Who are the defending champions?
Barcelona enter the season as the reigning UEFA Women’s Champions League holders.