Frank Christian
As the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League approaches its conclusion with only four teams left, numerous top clubs in Europe are already focused on the upcoming season.
Clubs from various nations are vying for a place in what is considered the most prestigious club tournament in the world, particularly for its valuable league phase.
This marks the second year of the expanded format, which received acclaim for its excitement and drama during the inaugural season.
The Sporting News provides the latest updates on which teams have secured a spot for the next UEFA Champions League as the current season wraps up.
How many teams will qualify for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League?
The league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League will feature a total of 36 teams.
A total of twenty-five teams earn their places automatically based on their standings in their respective leagues from the 2024/25 season. Additionally, the defending champions and the winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League also gain automatic entry.
Seven additional teams will achieve qualification through the qualifying rounds, while two more spots will be designated for leagues with the highest coefficient rankings, likely allowing one more club each from England and Spain.
Teams qualified for the UEFA Champions League 2025/26
Updated list of qualified clubs as of Sunday, May 18
League Phase
| Club | Country | Qualification Route |
| Tottenham OR Manchester United | England | Europa League champions |
| Liverpool | England | 1st — Premier League |
| Arsenal | England | 2nd — Premier League |
| England | 3rd — Premier League | |
| England | 4th — Premier League | |
| England | 5th — Premier League | |
| Barcelona | Spain | 1st — La Liga |
| Real Madrid | Spain | 2nd — La Liga |
| Atletico Madrid | Spain | 3rd — La Liga |
| Athletic Club | Spain | 4th — La Liga |
| Spain | 5th — La Liga | |
| Bayern Munich | Germany | Bundesliga |
| Bayer Leverkusen | Germany | Bundesliga |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | Germany | 3rd — Bundesliga |
| Borussia Dortmund | Germany | 4th — Bundesliga |
| Napoli | Italy | Serie A |
| Inter Milan | Italy | Serie A (position TBD) |
| Atalanta | Italy | 3rd — Serie A |
| Italy | 4th — Serie A | |
| Paris Saint-Germain | France | 1st — Ligue 1 |
| Marseille | France | 2nd — Ligue 1 |
| Monaco | France | 3rd — Ligue 1 |
| PSV | Netherlands | 1st — Eredivisie |
| Ajax | Netherlands | 2nd — Eredivisie |
| Sporting CP | Portugal | 1st — Primeira Liga |
| Galatasaray/Fenerbahce | Turkey | 1st — Super Lig |
| Slavia Prague | Czechia | 1st — First League |
| Belgium | 1st — Pro League | |
| Olympiacos | Greece | UCL rebalancing rule* |
*Olympiacos awarded a league-phase place as the 2025 UCL finalists have already qualified
Qualifying Rounds
CP = Champions Path — For league champions
LP = League Path — For non-champions
| Club | Country | Qualification Route | Entry Round |
| Celtic | Scotland | 1st — Premiership | Playoff Round |
| Basel | Switzerland | 1st — Super League | Playoff Round |
| Austria | 1st — Bundesliga | Playoff Round | |
| Bodo/Glimt | Norway | 1st — Eliteserien | Playoff Round |
| Nice | France | 4th — Ligue 1 | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Feyenoord | Netherlands | 3rd — Eredivisie | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Benfica/Sporting CP | Portugal | 2nd — Primeria Liga | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Belgium | 2nd — Pro League | 3rd Qualifying Round | |
| Galatasaray/Fenerbahce | Turkey | 2nd — Super Lig | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Denmark | 1st — Superliga | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) | |
| Israel | 1st — Premier League | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) | |
| Ukraine | 1st — Premier League | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) | |
| Slovan Bratislava | Slovakia | 1st — Slovak First League | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) |
| Red Star Belgrade | Serbia | 1st — SuperLiga | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) |
| Qarabag | Azerbaijan | 1st — Az. Premier League | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) |
| Croatia | 1st — Football League | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) | |
| Poland | 1st — Ekstraklasa | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) | |
| Pafos | Cyprus | 1st — First Division | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) |
| Hungary | 1st — NB 1 | 2nd Qualifying Round (CP) | |
| Czechia | 2nd — First League | 2nd Qualifying Round (LP) | |
| Rangers | Scotland | 2nd — Premiership | 2nd Qualifying Round (LP) |
| Switzerland | 2nd — Super League | 2nd Qualifying Round (LP) | |
| Austria | 2nd — Bundesliga | 2nd Qualifying Round (LP) | |
| Brann | Norway | 2nd — Eliteserien | 2nd Qualifying Round (LP) |
| Panathinaikos | Greece | Super League | 2nd Qualifying Round (LP) |
| Malmo FF | Sweden | 1st — Allsvenskan | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Romania | 1st — SuperLiga | 1st Qualifying Round | |
| Ludogorets Razgrad | Bulgaria | 1st — First League | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Slovakia | 1st — Slovakia | 1st Qualifying Round | |
| Slovenia | 1st — PrvaLiga | 1st Qualifying Round | |
| Moldova | 1st — Super Liga | 1st Qualifying Round | |
| Drita | Kosovo | 1st — Superleague | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Kairat | Kazakhstan | 1st — Premier League | 1st Qualifying Round |
| KuPS | Finland | 1st — Veikkausliiga | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Shelbourne | Rep. of Ireland | 1st — Premier Division | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Noah | Armenia | 1st — Premier League | 1st Qualifying Round |
| RFS | Latvia | 1st — Higher League | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Vikingur Gota | Faroe Islands | 1st — Premier League | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1st — Premier League | 1st Qualifying Round | |
| Breidablik | Iceland | 1st — Besta deild karla | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Linfield | Northern Ireland | 1st — Premiership | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Differdange 03 | Luxembourg | 1st — National Division | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Zalgiris | Lithuania | 1st — A Liga | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Malta | 1st — Premier League | 1st Qualifying Round | |
| Iberia 1999 | Georgia | 1st — Erovnuli Liga | 1st Qualifying Round |
| Albania | 1st — Kategoria Superiore | 3rd Qualifying Round | |
| FCI Levadia | Estonia | 1st — Meistriliiga | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Dinamo Minsk | Belarus | 1st — Premier League | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Shkendija | North Macedonia | 1st — First League | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Inter Club d’Escaldes | Andorra | 1st — Primera Divisio | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| The New Saints | Wales | 1st — Cymru Premier | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Buducnost Podgorica | Montenegro | 1st — First League | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Lincoln Red Imps | Gibraltar | 1st — Football League | 3rd Qualifying Round |
| Virtus | San Marino | 1st — Campionato di Calcio | 3rd Qualifying Round |
