The Champions League qualifiers 2026/27 are underway, with clubs from across Europe competing for the final seven places in the league phase.
Qualifying began on 7 July 2026 and will continue until the play-off second legs on 25 and 26 August. Although many of Europe’s biggest clubs qualify automatically, the preliminary rounds feature former Champions League regulars, domestic champions and emerging teams attempting to reach the main competition.
The second qualifying round is currently in progress, with Fenerbahçe, Sturm Graz, Dinamo Zagreb, Red Star Belgrade and Lech Poznań among the most recognisable clubs involved.
Champions League qualifying 2026/27 quick facts
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Current stage: Second qualifying round
First legs: 21 and 22 July 2026
Second legs: 28 and 29 July 2026
Third qualifying round: 4, 5 and 11 August 2026
Play-offs: 18, 19, 25 and 26 August 2026
League-phase draw: 27 August 2026
League-phase places available through qualifying: Seven
Format: Two-legged knockout ties
Twenty-nine clubs qualify directly for the 36-team league phase. The remaining seven positions are decided through the qualifying rounds and play-offs.
How Champions League qualifying works
The Champions League qualifying process contains four stages:
- First qualifying round
- Second qualifying round
- Third qualifying round
- Play-off round
Every tie is played over two legs, with each club hosting one match. The team with the higher aggregate score advances to the next round.
From the second qualifying round onwards, the competition is divided into two sections.
Champions path
The champions path is reserved primarily for clubs that won their domestic league but did not receive automatic entry into the Champions League league phase.
This route contains many champions from smaller and mid-ranked European associations.
League path
The league path features clubs that qualified through a high domestic-league position without winning their national championship.
Only four clubs entered the second qualifying round through this route:
- Fenerbahçe
- Górnik Zabrze
- Sturm Graz
- Heart of Midlothian
The number of clubs entering each stage is determined partly by UEFA association and club coefficient rankings.
Champions League second qualifying round results
The opening first-leg matches were played on Tuesday, 21 July.
Champions path results
- Mjällby 3-0 Lincoln Red Imps
- Sabah 1-0 KuPS Kuopio
- Ararat-Armenia 2-0 Shamrock Rovers
- Iberia Tbilisi 0-2 Slovan Bratislava
- Aarhus 1-4 Lech Poznań
- Thun 1-1 Dinamo Zagreb
- Klaksvík 0-0 Kauno Žalgiris
- Larne 0-4 Red Star Belgrade
- Víkingur Reykjavík 2-1 Hapoel Beer-Sheva
League path results
- Fenerbahçe 1-0 Górnik Zabrze
- Sturm Graz 4-0 Hearts
Several ties already appear close to being decided. Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz and Lech Poznań all recorded commanding away or home victories, while Mjällby also established a three-goal advantage.
Fenerbahçe earned a narrower 1-0 win over Górnik Zabrze. The Turkish club remains in control, but the return match in Poland could still create pressure if Górnik scores first.
Champions League qualifying matches on 22 July
Three additional champions-path first legs complete the current round’s opening fixtures:
- Omonia vs Kairat Almaty
- Levski Sofia vs Universitatea Craiova
- Egnatia vs Celje
These ties appear more balanced than some of Tuesday’s matches.
Omonia and Kairat both have recent European qualifying experience, while Levski Sofia entered the second round after defeating Borac 5-1 on aggregate. Universitatea Craiova also produced a convincing first-round performance, eliminating Vitebsk 5-1 on aggregate.
Egnatia recorded one of the most emphatic first-round results. After drawing 1-1 away to Petrocub, the Albanian champions won the return match 6-1.
Most important Champions League qualifying ties
Fenerbahçe vs Górnik Zabrze
Fenerbahçe are one of the biggest clubs involved at this stage and will be expected to progress.
However, their 1-0 first-leg win leaves the tie open. Górnik will have home advantage in the second leg and may be encouraged by remaining within one goal.
The most important betting question is whether Fenerbahçe will protect their advantage or continue attacking. A controlled away performance could make markets such as Fenerbahçe double chance or under a higher match-goal line more attractive than the standard match-winner price.
Sturm Graz vs Hearts
Sturm Graz produced the strongest result in the league path, beating Hearts 4-0.
The Austrian side now holds an overwhelming aggregate advantage. Hearts require an exceptional comeback in Edinburgh, while Sturm can afford to manage the return match without taking unnecessary risks.
This situation may make the second-leg match-winner market less predictable. Bettors should consider rotation, motivation and game state before automatically backing the team that won the opening match.
Thun vs Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb were expected to be among the stronger champions-path teams, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by Thun.
The Croatian club will have home advantage in the second leg, but the opening result demonstrated that the tie cannot be treated as a formality.
Dinamo should still be favoured to qualify, although their outright second-leg price may offer limited value if bookmakers react strongly to the change of venue.
Aarhus vs Lech Poznań
Lech Poznań produced an impressive 4-1 away victory in Denmark.
An away team scoring four times in the first leg usually creates a nearly unassailable qualification position. Aarhus must attack in the return, which could create opportunities for Lech on the counterattack.
Markets involving total goals or both teams to score may therefore be more interesting than the qualification market.
Larne vs Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade won 4-0 away and should comfortably reach the third qualifying round.
The Serbian champions possess significantly more European experience and now have the opportunity to control the second leg at home.
As with Sturm Graz, rotation represents an important betting risk. A dominant first-leg score does not always produce another large victory in the return match.
Champions League third qualifying round draw
UEFA has already completed the draw for the third qualifying round.
Potential champions-path ties include:
- Thun or Dinamo Zagreb vs Klaksvík or Kauno Žalgiris
- Mjällby or Lincoln Red Imps vs Iberia Tbilisi or Slovan Bratislava
- Levski Sofia or Universitatea Craiova vs Omonia or Kairat Almaty
- Aarhus or Lech Poznań vs Sabah or KuPS Kuopio
- Ararat-Armenia or Shamrock Rovers vs Egnatia or Celje
- Víkingur Reykjavík or Hapoel Beer-Sheva vs Larne or Red Star Belgrade
The league path becomes considerably stronger in the third qualifying round.
Confirmed or potential ties include:
- Olympiacos vs NEC Nijmegen
- Union Saint-Gilloise vs Bodø/Glimt
- Fenerbahçe or Górnik Zabrze vs Sturm Graz or Hearts
- Sparta Prague vs Lyon
The first legs will be played on 4 and 5 August, with the return matches scheduled for 11 August.
Best betting markets for Champions League qualifiers
Champions League qualifying matches require a different approach from regular league games.
To qualify
The qualification market covers the result across both legs rather than only one match.
This can be useful when a stronger club is playing away in the opening leg or when the team is expected to advance despite a difficult individual fixture.
Double chance
Early qualifying rounds can be unpredictable because of travel, unfamiliar stadiums and differences in domestic preparation.
The double-chance market can provide protection when backing a stronger team away from home.
Asian handicap
Large differences in quality frequently produce short match-winner odds.
Asian handicaps allow bettors to support a favourite while requiring a victory by a specified margin. They can also be used to back an underdog with a goal advantage.
Over or under goals
The aggregate score must always be considered.
A team protecting a first-leg advantage may reduce the tempo, while a club chasing a deficit must eventually take more attacking risks.
Both teams to score
This market may be attractive in second legs where one team must attack to remain in the competition.
However, it can be risky when a strong favourite has already established a large aggregate lead and decides to rotate its squad.
What to check before betting
Aggregate score
A second leg cannot be analysed as an isolated match. A team leading by three or four goals may prioritise qualification rather than another victory.
Team rotation
Managers may rest players when a tie appears decided. Confirmed line-ups are particularly important before backing short-priced favourites.
Domestic calendar
Some clubs are already playing regular domestic league matches, while others remain in pre-season or have only recently returned to competitive action.
Travel and home advantage
Long-distance travel can matter during qualifying. Clubs travelling between Western Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia may face different climates, time zones and playing conditions.
European experience
Teams familiar with UEFA qualifying rounds may manage difficult away matches more effectively than clubs making rare European appearances.
What happens to eliminated teams?
A Champions League qualifying defeat does not always end a club’s European season.
Teams eliminated in the second qualifying round move into the Europa League third qualifying round. Clubs defeated in later stages may also transfer into either the Europa League qualification process or its league phase, depending on the round and path.
This system gives clubs another opportunity to reach a UEFA league phase even when their Champions League campaign ends.
Key Champions League qualifying dates
- 28 and 29 July: Second qualifying round second legs
- 3 August: Play-off round draw
- 4 and 5 August: Third qualifying round first legs
- 11 August: Third qualifying round second legs
- 18 and 19 August: Play-off first legs
- 25 and 26 August: Play-off second legs
- 27 August: League-phase draw
- 8-10 September: League-phase Matchday 1
The seven play-off winners will join the 29 automatically qualified clubs in the 36-team league phase.
Champions League qualifiers 2026/27 verdict
The Champions League qualifiers 2026/27 are already producing major scorelines and potentially decisive first-leg results.
Sturm Graz, Red Star Belgrade, Lech Poznań and Mjällby have placed themselves in excellent positions to progress. Fenerbahçe remain favourites against Górnik Zabrze, but their one-goal advantage leaves more uncertainty ahead of the return fixture.
Dinamo Zagreb must also improve after drawing with Thun, while the arrival of Lyon, Olympiacos, Sparta Prague, Union Saint-Gilloise and Bodø/Glimt will raise the standard significantly in the third qualifying round.
For bettors, the most important lesson is to evaluate the aggregate situation rather than simply comparing the quality of the two teams. Rotation, motivation and the tactical requirements of the second leg can create very different matches from those suggested by the standard match-winner odds.
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