UEFA Champions League 2026-27 qualifying begins with second-round draw as clubs learn path to league phase

UEFA Champions League qualifying is the current phase on 17 June 2026, with the second qualifying round draw set to define the next step towards the league phase.

By Claire Donovan, Champions League Correspondent | 2026-06-17

The 2026-27 Champions League has not yet reached the league phase, and no English club is involved at this stage of qualifying. The key development on Wednesday is the second qualifying round draw, which is scheduled for 17 June and will determine the next set of two-legged ties on the road to the main competition.

Where the competition stands

The tournament is still in the qualifying phase and play-off round route, which begins in July and runs through August before the league phase starts. UEFA’s published timetable shows the first qualifying round opening on 7-8 July, the second qualifying round on 21-22 July and 28-29 July, the third qualifying round in early August, and the play-off round later in the month.

That means there are no Champions League results to report from the pitch yet today. Instead, the important issue is the draw and the paths it creates for clubs hoping to reach the league phase.

What the draw means

The qualifying system is split into a Champions Path and a League Path, with teams separated according to how they qualified domestically. UEFA says each tie will be played over two legs, with aggregate score deciding who advances, and extra time and penalties used if required in the second leg.

For clubs involved, the consequences are straightforward: win enough over two legs and you move on, fall short and the European campaign ends. Because this is still the draw stage, no qualification or elimination has yet been confirmed from this round.

English clubs and UK relevance

There is no immediate matchday angle for Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool or Tottenham because those clubs are not part of this qualifying draw stage. The UK interest at this moment is therefore broader: Premier League supporters are watching the bracket shape up, but the English giants enter later in the competition rather than this early qualifying route.

That also means there are no confirmed Champions League injury, suspension or managerial subplots involving English clubs to report from this date. Any such developments would only become relevant once the league phase or knockout rounds involve those teams directly.

What happens next

The draw for the second qualifying round is the key near-term event, after which UEFA will move towards the scheduled July ties. The winner of each two-legged tie progresses deeper into qualifying, while the defeated club is out of the competition unless it drops into another UEFA route, depending on the specific stage and access list rules.

For now, the most important point for UK readers is that the Champions League season is still in its opening administrative phase rather than its footballing knockout drama. The serious action starts in July, when the first qualifying round is played and the road to the league phase begins in earnest.

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.

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