UEFA Champions League 2026-27: Teams, Fixtures, Broadcast Info, and Aussie Players

Overview of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League Season

The UEFA Champions League returns with Paris Saint-Germain aiming for a third straight title. PSG, under Luis Enrique, enters this season as the reigning champion alongside other heavyweights like Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool, and a returning Manchester United. Newcomers Viking FK and Sabah will also make their first appearances.

This season, the competition features 36 teams in the league phase. Each club faces eight different opponents — four matches at home and four away.

Broadcasting Details in Australia

Stan Sport holds exclusive Australian rights for the UEFA Champions League, streaming every game live and on demand throughout the season.

Teams Participating in the League Phase

• AEK Athens (GRE)
• Arsenal (ENG)
• Aston Villa (ENG)
• Atlético Madrid (ESP)
• Barcelona (ESP)
• Bayern München (GER)
• Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
• Borussia Dortmund (GER)
• Club Brugge (BEL)
• Como (ITA)
• Fenerbahçe (TUR)
• Feyenoord (NED)
• Galatasaray (TUR)
• Inter (ITA)
• LASK (AUT)
• Leipzig (GER)
• Lens (FRA)
• Lille (FRA)
• Liverpool (ENG)
• Man City (ENG)
• Manchester United (ENG)
• Napoli (ITA)
• Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
• Porto (POR)
• PSV (NED)
• Real Betis (ESP)
• Real Madrid (ESP)
• Roma (ITA)
• Sabah (AZE)
• Shakhtar (UKR)
• Slavia Praha (CZE)
• Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
• Sporting CP (POR)
• Stuttgart (GER)
• Viking (NOR)
• Villarreal (ESP)

Australian Players and Their Clubs in This Season

Nestory Irankunda has a chance for big European nights after Sporting CP was drawn against Barcelona, Manchester United, and Manchester City. Sporting will host Barcelona at Estadio Jose Alvalade, with Manchester United, Galatasaray, and LASK also visiting Lisbon. Sporting’s away games include trips to Manchester City, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Lens.

Jordan Bos plays for Feyenoord, which faces Barcelona away and visits Real Betis, Galatasaray, and Viking FK. At home, Feyenoord hosts Inter Milan, Porto, RB Leipzig, and Como. Bos could encounter Socceroos teammates Gianni Stensness and Nick D’Agostino when Feyenoord meets Viking.

Viking FK, featuring Gianni Stensness and Nick D’Agostino, will host Bayern Munich in Stavanger. They also face PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, and Sabah at home. Viking’s away schedule includes Atlético Madrid, Aston Villa, Napoli, and Stuttgart. This is Viking’s Champions League debut.

Antonio Arena, an Aussie-born Italy youth international, is part of Roma’s squad this season.

Competition Format Explained

The Champions League now uses a 36-team league phase instead of groups. Each team plays eight matches against different opponents, split evenly between home and away. Teams come from four seeding pots. All 36 clubs are ranked in one table, earning three points for a win and one for a draw.

After the league phase, the top eight clubs advance directly to the Round of 16. Teams placed ninth to twenty-fourth enter a two-legged playoff for knockout qualification. Those finishing 25th or below exit European competition.

League Phase Fixture Dates

• Matchday 1: 8-10 September 2026
• Matchday 2: 13-14 October 2026
• Matchday 3: 20-21 October 2026
• Matchday 4: 3-4 November 2026
• Matchday 5: 24-25 November 2026
• Matchday 6: 8-9 December 2026
• Matchday 7: 19-20 January 2027
• Matchday 8: 27 January 2027

Selected Matchday 1 Fixtures (Local Date and AEST)

• Tuesday 8 September 2026 (Wednesday 9 September AEST): AEK Athens vs LASK, Club Brugge vs Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal, Porto vs Manchester City, Lille vs Real Betis, Real Madrid vs Inter
• Wednesday 9 September 2026 (Thursday 10 September AEST): Barcelona vs Feyenoord, Stuttgart vs Viking, Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava, Sporting CP vs Galatasaray, Napoli vs Arsenal
• Thursday 10 September 2026 (Friday 11 September AEST): Fenerbahçe vs Roma, PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk, Como vs Leipzig, Bayern München vs Bodø/Glimt, Manchester United vs Sabah, Slavia Praha vs Lens

When and Where Is the Final?

The 2026-27 Champions League final will take place at Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano on Saturday, June 5, 2027 (Sunday, June 6, 2027 AEST).