The full cast for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase has been confirmed after Benfica, Club Brugge, Qarabağ and Copenhagen sealed the final four places in Wednesday’s play-off second legs.
Their victories complete the expanded 36-team field, with the draw scheduled for Thursday (today) at 18:00 CET in Monaco.
On Tuesday, Kairat Almaty made history, reaching the Champions League for the first time after edging Celtic 3–2 on penalties in Kazakhstan. Bodø/Glimt also progressed despite a 2-1 loss at Sturm Graz, thanks to their emphatic 5-0 win in the first leg. In Cyprus, Pafos FC celebrated a maiden appearance, edging Red Star Belgrade 3-2 on aggregate.
Benfica edge Fenerbahçe
At the Estádio da Luz, Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s 35th-minute strike secured a 1-0 aggregate victory over Fenerbahçe. The Turkish side came closest when Youssef En-Nesyri’s header struck the bar, while former Benfica forward Talisca was sent off late on.
Qarabağ survive Ferencváros scare
In Baku, Qarabağ clinched only their second-ever group-stage berth, winning 5-4 on aggregate. Goals from Leandro Andrade and Abdellah Zoubir overturned an early deficit before Ferencváros hit back through Barnabás Varga and Alex Tóth, setting up a nervy finale.
Copenhagen too strong for Basel
Danish champions Copenhagen eased past Basel 2-0 (3-1 agg.), with Andreas Cornelius heading home after the break and Youssoufa Moukoko sealing the win from the penalty spot. Goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski again impressed with a string of saves.
Club Brugge demolish Rangers
In Bruges, it was one-way traffic as Club Brugge crushed Rangers 6-0 (9-1 agg.). Goals from Nicolò Tresoldi, Hans Vanaken, Joaquin Seys (2), Aleksandar Stanković and Christos Tzolis fired the Belgian giants into their eighth Champions League campaign in ten years.
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Full 36-Team Line-Up
Ajax (NED), Arsenal (ENG), Atalanta (ITA), Athletic Club (ESP), Atlético de Madrid (ESP), Barcelona (ESP), Bayern München (GER), Benfica (POR), Bodø/Glimt (NOR), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Chelsea (ENG), Club Brugge (BEL), Copenhagen (DEN), Frankfurt (GER), Galatasaray (TUR), Inter (ITA), Juventus (ITA), Kairat Almaty (KAZ), Leverkusen (GER), Liverpool (ENG), Man City (ENG), Marseille (FRA), Monaco (FRA), Napoli (ITA), Newcastle (ENG), Olympiacos (GRE), Pafos (CYP), Paris (FRA), PSV (NED), Qarabağ (AZE), Real Madrid (ESP), Slavia Praha (CZE), Sporting CP (POR), Tottenham (ENG), Union SG (BEL), Villarreal (ESP).
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What’s Next?
The league phase draw takes place today in Monaco at 18:00 CET, with UEFA’s software-assisted system pairing each team against eight different opponents.
The fixture list will be released on Friday, 30 August. With the line-up now complete, Europe’s elite — joined by four debutants — await their fate in what promises to be a thrilling new chapter of the Champions League.