Champions League returns with qualifying draw as Premier League giants wait for league phase spotlight

The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League is moving from planning boards to the pitch, with early qualifying rounds taking shape while Arsenal, Manchester City and the rest of the Premier League elite prepare for a loaded league phase later in the year.

The new 2026-27 UEFA Champions League campaign is edging into view, with the men’s competition heading towards its early qualifying rounds while Europe’s elite prepare for the expanded league phase later in the year.

By Claire Donovan, Champions League Correspondent | 2026-06-25

On the men’s side, UEFA is between seasons and moving into the qualifying phase for 2026-27, with preliminary and first qualifying round fixtures scheduled in early July and beyond rather than full league-phase drama just yet. For English fans, that means attention is split between transfer manoeuvres, pre-season plans and keeping an eye on how the qualifying draw could shape the future opponents of Arsenal, Manchester City and the rest once they enter later in the competition.

Current Champions League phase and calendar

Right now, the men’s UEFA Champions League is in the summer window between the end of the 2025-26 season and the very start of qualifying for 2026-27. UEFA’s official match listings show upcoming qualifying fixtures for early July, signalling the transition into the qualifying rounds rather than any live league-phase or knockout ties. These early matches bring champions and high finishers from smaller leagues into the spotlight as they chase their place in the main competition.

The revamped Champions League format, introduced recently, replaced the old eight-group structure with a single league phase table, giving each club eight fixtures against a spread of opponents. While full 2026-27 men’s league-phase fixtures are not yet in play, the shape of the competition is clear: clubs that survive the qualifying rounds will join Europe’s heavyweights in that league phase, with performance there determining who reaches the knockout play-offs and who advances directly to the last 16. For UK supporters, it means every qualifying tie has potential implications for who Premier League sides might meet later on.

Early qualifying storylines and what they mean for English clubs

At this stage, the focus is on the preliminary and first qualifying rounds, where champions from lower-ranked European leagues are preparing to battle for progression. These fixtures might look remote from a Premier League perspective, but they decide which clubs climb through the qualifying ladder to reach the league phase and potentially cross paths with English sides.

Crucially, English representatives in the men’s competition will not appear in these early rounds. Based on the current access list system and England’s strong UEFA coefficient, Premier League clubs qualified for the Champions League will step directly into the league phase later in the autumn rather than negotiating qualifiers. That gives them time to concentrate on pre-season tours, transfer business and tactical fine-tuning, while scouts quietly track emerging opponents coming through the summer rounds.

For fans of Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool or any other English qualifiers, the immediate Champions League interest lies in the draw mechanics rather than live results. Seedings, pots and league-phase scheduling will dictate how gruelling their European calendar looks, especially once domestic fixtures and international breaks are layered on top. The upshot is that while July’s qualifiers decide which outsiders make the big show, they also help frame how challenging the league phase might be for clubs from the Premier League.

Premier League angle: how English clubs are shaping up

Although the men’s Champions League is not yet into its high-profile league phase, the conversation in England is already dominated by how Premier League clubs will approach Europe’s biggest stage. Recent seasons have underlined that English clubs are among the favourites every year, and the new league-phase format could play to their depth, given the squad strength and fixture-handling experience in the Premier League. While there are no live Champions League matches involving English clubs right now, pre-season planning is being tailored with European commitments firmly in mind.

Clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are expected to treat the early autumn as a crucial balancing act between domestic ambitions and getting out of the blocks quickly in Europe. In the new configuration, early league-phase points can make the difference between securing a direct passage to the last 16 and dropping into the play-off round that adds two more intense knock-out ties. That raises the stakes for every autumn fixture and puts a premium on squad rotation, conditioning and depth, especially for English sides also fighting on multiple fronts at home.

Transfer windows also take on extra significance for English contenders. Recruitment departments are weighing up not just the demands of a 38-match Premier League season but also eight league-phase Champions League fixtures plus any subsequent knockouts. Even without a match ball being kicked in the competition this summer, deals concluded now are being judged by how well they position clubs for Champions League nights under the floodlights.

Women’s Champions League: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City set for league phase

While the men’s competition waits for qualifying to kick off, there is already clarity around some aspects of the 2026-27 Women’s Champions League. UEFA has drawn the first and second qualifying rounds, with a series of mini-tournaments determining which clubs reach the later stages of the competition. From a UK perspective, the standout detail is that Arsenal and Manchester City will go directly into the women’s league phase, while Chelsea will enter in the third qualifying round, reflecting their domestic performance and UEFA’s access list for the women’s tournament.

The initial qualifying rounds in the women’s competition will feature champions and high-ranked clubs from across Europe playing semi-finals, finals and third-place play-offs in mini-groups, with the winners progressing. Dates have already been set for those early stages, giving supporters of smaller clubs a clear roadmap for their route into the main league phase. Even though no ball has yet been kicked in those qualifiers, the draw itself is a significant moment, as it determines who might join the English trio later on and what sort of league-phase schedule Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City may face.

Arsenal Women preparing for league-phase return

For Arsenal Women, the confirmation that they will start in the league phase of the 2026-27 Women’s Champions League has allowed the club to plan a more measured summer. Reports indicate that Arsenal will take advantage of that later start to build fitness through a structured pre-season, including a tour in Spain, rather than facing the frantic quick turnaround that comes with earlier qualifying involvement. From an English perspective, that could be crucial in ensuring Jonas Eidevall’s squad hits the ground running against Europe’s elite later in the autumn.

Arsenal’s return to the league phase also raises expectations. Gunners fans will recall deep runs and dramatic nights in Europe, and the new league-format structure offers more big ties rather than fewer. With multiple high-calibre fixtures guaranteed, every selection call and tactical tweak will be scrutinised, particularly against fellow heavyweights such as Barcelona, Lyon or Bayern. The club’s recruitment strategy and the integration of any new signings over the summer will be geared towards not just domestic success in the Women’s Super League but a sustained push in Europe.

Chelsea and Manchester City eye European breakthroughs

Chelsea’s route will be slightly different. According to the outlined format and recent draw information, Chelsea are set to join in the third qualifying round of the Women’s Champions League league path. That means an earlier competitive start to their season in Europe, with high-stakes two-legged ties standing between them and the league phase proper. Given Chelsea’s ambition to become established Champions League winners, that adds early-season pressure and could shape how they manage their squad in the opening weeks of the WSL campaign.

Manchester City Women, meanwhile, will join Arsenal in the league phase, avoiding the jeopardy of qualifiers and focusing their attention on readying a squad capable of taking on Europe’s very best. For City supporters, the prospect of multiple marquee fixtures at the Joie Stadium or the Etihad is an enticing one, especially in the context of the league phase that promises a broader spread of opponents. The sense is that both City and Arsenal see this as an opportunity to turn domestic strength into European silverware.

Format changes, consequences and what to watch next

Both the men’s and women’s Champions League competitions have moved towards a league-phase model that is reshaping how clubs experience European football. Instead of traditional group stages, the league phase hands every club a series of eight fixtures against a range of opponents, with a single table determining progression. That change has several knock-on effects for English teams and their supporters.

For one, the margin for error becomes smaller at the very top. Finish high enough in the table and you skip straight to the last 16; slip slightly and you drop into a play-off round that adds more knockout pressure and eats into an already packed calendar. English clubs, used to juggling deep domestic cup runs with title fights and European adventures, will need to weigh up how aggressively to rotate across that run of fixtures. The league phase also means every matchday carries tangible implications for seeding and knockout positioning, rather than a slow-burn group campaign where dead rubbers can appear late on.

From a fan perspective in the UK, the key dates on the horizon are the draws and fixture announcements that will map out when Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and other English clubs will be in action. Supporters planning midweek trips around Europe will be watching closely for the release of the full schedule. In the shorter term, the early qualifying rounds offer a chance to scout potential future opponents and enjoy stories of emerging sides fighting against the odds for a place among the elite.

For now, the Champions League sits in an intriguing holding pattern. On the men’s side, qualifying is about to bring smaller clubs to the forefront; on the women’s side, the early-round draw has set the stage while England’s representatives ready themselves for the league phase. Across both competitions, the overarching narrative is the same: an expanded, more intense European calendar that will test the depth, resilience and tactical flexibility of every club involved, particularly those from the Premier League and the Women’s Super League.

Official UEFA Champions League Results & Bracket

Note: Scores and facts were verified live before publication; for ongoing matches, only the clearly confirmed score at time of writing is used.