The 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League officially begins today, July 8, with the first-round qualifying fixtures.
There will be a total of 14 matches played between Tuesday and Wednesday.
These games come just 38 days after Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in last season’s final.
Again, the Champions League will have 36 teams participating in the League Phase. 29 have already qualified via their domestic leagues, winning the Champions League and Europa League, as well as two more by the European Performance Spots (Newcastle and Villareal this year).
But there are seven spots left, to be decided among 53 teams, between the winners or runner-ups, third or fourth placed in domestic leagues in every country in Europe, except for Liechtenstein and Russia.
There will be three qualifying rounds and one play-off round between July 8 and August 27.
All Champions League games taking place today, July 8, as part of qualifying round 1:
KuPS vs. Milsami (16:00 BST, 17:00 CEST)
Iberia 1999 vs. Malmo FF (17:00 BST, 18:00 CEST)
Noah vs. Budućnost Podgorica (17:00 BST, 18:00 CEST)
Levadia vs. Rigas FS (17:30 BST, 18:30 CEST)
Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Kairat Almaty (18:00 BST, 19:00 CEST)
FC Drita vs. FC 03 Differdange (19:00 BST, 20:00 CEST)
The New Saints FC vs. Shkendija (19:00 BST, 20:00 CEST)
Vikingur vs. Lincoln Red Imps (19:00 BST, 20:00 CEST)
KF Egnatia vs. Breidablik (20:00 BST, 21:00 CEST)
Virtus vs. Zrinjski Mostar (20:00 BST, 21:00 CEST)
