The Champions League qualification playoff round has concluded, determining all participants of the group stage. Fourteen clubs competed at this stage, battling in two-legged ties for seven spots in the tournament. Among the contenders was Dynamo Kyiv, but the Ukrainian side failed to progress after losing to Pafos in the third qualifying round and dropped into the Europa League qualifiers, reports Baltimore Chronicle.
On Tuesday, August 26, the first three teams secured their tickets to the group stage — newcomers Kairat, Pafos, and Bodø/Glimt. For each of them, this marks a historic debut in Europe’s premier club competition.
The following day, four more clubs advanced to the Champions League proper. Portuguese giants Benfica, featuring Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, defeated Fenerbahçe 1:0 on aggregate. Also through to the group stage are Qarabağ, Club Brugge, and Copenhagen.
Champions League Playoff Results:
- Kairat (Kazakhstan) — Celtic (Scotland) 1:0 (aggregate)
- Pafos (Cyprus) — Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) 3:2
- Sturm Graz (Austria) — Bodø/Glimt (Norway) 2:6
- Qarabağ (Azerbaijan) — Ferencváros (Hungary) 5:4
- Benfica (Portugal) — Fenerbahçe (Turkey) 1:0
- Club Brugge (Belgium) — Rangers (Scotland) 9:1
- Copenhagen (Denmark) — Basel (Switzerland) 5:1
The seven playoff winners will now join 29 clubs that qualified directly via domestic championships. The group stage draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 28.
England will have the largest representation in the 2025/26 Champions League with six teams. Spain will send five clubs, while Germany and Italy will each be represented by four.
Champions League 2025/26 Group Stage Participants:
England: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle United
Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal
Germany: Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund
Italy: Inter, Atalanta, Juventus, Napoli
France: PSG, Marseille, Monaco
Netherlands: Ajax, PSV
Portugal: Sporting, Benfica
Belgium: Union SG, Club Brugge
Czech Republic: Slavia Prague
Turkey: Galatasaray
Greece: Olympiacos
Kazakhstan: Kairat
Cyprus: Pafos
Norway: Bodø/Glimt
Azerbaijan: Qarabağ
Denmark: Copenhagen
Champions League 2025/26 Group Stage Fixtures:
Matchday 1 — September 16-18, 2025
Matchday 2 — September 30 – October 1, 2025
Matchday 3 — October 21-22, 2025
Matchday 4 — November 4-5, 2025
Matchday 5 — November 25-26, 2025
Matchday 6 — December 9-10, 2025
Matchday 7 — January 20-21, 2026
Matchday 8 — January 28, 2026
Earlier we wrote that Elina Svitolina knocked out by Anna Bondar at the 2025 US Open.