UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) 2025/26

The UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) 2025/26 season will be a very special one in women’s football. The tournament has a brand-new format that will make it more exciting than ever. Fans will see the best players in the world compete at the highest level.

This season is not just about finding the European champion, but also about showing the amazing skill and passion that women’s football is known for. It will also give a preview of the talent we will see in future big events, like the upcoming Women’s Football Olympics.

In this guide, you will find everything you need to know: the new format, key dates, teams to watch, and how to follow the matches. Many fans rely on live updates through a Soccer Data API, which provides real-time results and stats to make the experience even more engaging.

From the first qualifying rounds to the final in Oslo, the whole journey will highlight the growth and professionalism of women’s football.

The New UWCL 2025/26 Format Explained

The 2025/26 season marks a seismic shift for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, moving away from the traditional group stage format to an innovative 18-team league phase, inspired by the new structure of the men’s Champions League. This “Swiss model” system is designed to create a more competitive and compelling tournament from the very beginning. 

Instead of being divided into groups, all 18 teams will be part of a single league table. Each team will play six different opponents, with three matches at home and three away. This ensures a greater variety of matchups and removes the predictability of facing the same three teams twice. The final standings in the league table will determine each team’s path to the trophy.

At the end of the league phase:

• The top 4 teams go straight to the quarter-finals.
• Teams in 5th to 12th place will play in a two-leg play-off to win a quarter-final spot.
• Teams finishing 13th to 18th will be out of the competition.

From the quarter-finals onwards, the tournament will keep the usual two-leg format, with the final played as one match. This new format makes every game important, whether it’s fighting for the top spots, trying to reach the play-offs, or avoiding early elimination.

UWCL 2025/26 Schedule & Key Dates

The Women’s Champions League 2025/26 schedule champions league has been designed to bring excitement from start to finish. The competition started with the early qualifying rounds, and now the big stage is almost here.

Third Qualifying Round (Second Leg) – September 18, 2025

This round will decide the last nine teams that join the league phase. Big games include Atlético de Madrid vs BK Häcken and Manchester United vs Brann.

League Phase Draw – September 19, 2025

 On this date, the 18 teams will discover their six opponents for the new league format.

League Phase Matchdays

• Matchday 1: October 7/8, 2025
• Matchday 2: October 15/16, 2025
• Matchday 3: November 11/12, 2025
• Matchday 4: November 19/20, 2025
• Matchday 5: December 9/10, 2025
• Matchday 6: December 17, 2025

Knockout Phase Play-offs

• First Leg: February 11/12, 2026
• Second Leg: February 18/19, 2026

Quarter-finals

• First Leg: March 24/25, 2026
• Second Leg: April 1/2, 2026

Semi-finals

• First Leg: April 25/26, 2026
  Second Leg: May 2/3, 2026

Final – May 22–24, 2026

Qualified Teams for the League Phase

The Women’s Champions League league phase will have 18 teams. It will feature some of Europe’s strongest clubs along with teams that fight their way through the qualifiers. Right now, nine clubs are already confirmed, while the other nine spots will be decided in the third qualifying round.

Direct Qualifiers (already through):

• Arsenal (defending champions)
  
• Lyon
  
• Paris Saint-Germain
  
• Bayern Munich
  
• Wolfsburg
  
• Barcelona
  
• Chelsea
  
• Benfica
  
• Juventus
  

Teams in the Third Qualifying Round (playing for 9 spots):

Big names like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Roma, and Sporting CP are still battling to secure their place in the main competition.

Where to Watch the UWCL 2025/26 Live

Watching the Women Champions League 2025/26 is easier than ever with global streaming and broadcast deals. Fans all around the world can enjoy live coverage of every stage of the competition.

• Global Streaming: DAZN owns the worldwide rights and will show the matches in most countries. In Europe, all 75 games will also be available on Disney+, making it more accessible to fans than ever before.
  
• Regional Broadcasters: Some regions have their own broadcasters. For example, in the US, matches are usually shown on Paramount+. In the UK, fans can watch on TNT Sports and the BBC.
  
• Live Updates:To stay fully updated, fans can also check reliable live sports streaming services or websites. These platforms give the latest results, match stats, and updates in real time.

Conclusion

The UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025/26 season is set to be one of the most exciting yet. With the new 18-team league phase, fans can look forward to more big matches, more competition, and a real test of every team’s strength. As the league draw approaches, the excitement is growing, and the final in Oslo will be a perfect ending to this historic season. 

This new format shows how much women’s football has grown, turning the competition into a global showcase of talent. With the help of modern tools like a sports data API, fans and platforms can track live scores, stats, and insights more easily. From the qualifiers to the final, this season promises plenty of drama and unforgettable moments, proving again that Europe is the biggest stage for the best in the game.