Sport24.az
The format and dates of the UEFA Champions League 2025-2026 season have been announced. Sport24.az reports that the regulations of the new season have been changed. Let's note from the beginning that there are 2 rounds left until the end of the Premier League, and the champion of Azerbaijan is still unknown.
In the preliminary and main stage, the teams will be divided into 4 groups, each with 4 participants, as in previous years. The novelty is the replacement of the elite round with the 1/8 and ¼ final stages.
In the new season, according to the ranking table of national teams announced in April (Portugal, Spain, Kazakhstan, Ukraine), the first 4 countries will be represented by 2 teams each.
Russian clubs will not be allowed to compete.
Calendar
Draw for the preliminary and main stage: July 3
Preliminary stage matches: August 26-31
Main stage matches: October 28 – November 2
Draw for the 1/8 final stage: November 6
1/8 final stage matches: November 24 and December 5
¼ final matches: February 23 and March 6
Final stage: May 7 or 8, 9 or 10
Preliminary stage (August 26-31, 2025)
Teams ranked lower in the ranking table (depending on the number of participants) will start the competition from the preliminary stage. Depending on the draw, the number of teams in the groups will be 4 or 3.
Group winners and, depending on the number, the best second-place finishers will advance to the main stage.
Main stage (October 26 – November 2, 2025)
Route A
The last winner of the tournament, the 11 clubs with the highest rating, as well as 16 teams ranked 16th-19th in the ranking table, will participate here. Participants will be divided into 4 groups with 4 teams each. One club from each group will host the matches. According to the regulations, the club that takes the first 3 places in each group will have the right to play in the next stage.
Route B
4 clubs ranked 12th-15th in the ranking table, as well as those after the 20th place (those who did not participate in the preliminary stage), as well as those who qualified from the preliminary stage, will participate. Here, too, 16 clubs will be divided into 4 groups. However, only the teams that take the first place (4 clubs in total) will continue the competition.
1/8 final (November 24 and December 5, 2025)
After the elite round is canceled, after the main stage, the teams will participate in the 1/8 and ¼ finals. The winners of Route B and the 3rd place winners of Route A will face the clubs that took the first and second places in Group A. The winner will be determined based on the overall result of 2 matches. Pairs will be determined by draw. The draw will be held on November 6.
¼ final (February 23 and March 6, 2026)
The teams that win in the overall result of the 2 matches to be held in the 1/8 final stage will be opponents in the ¼ final. Here, too, the winner will be determined in 2 matches between the winning pairs.
Final tournament (May 7/8 and 9/10)
4 teams will participate in the final tournament. Again, semi-final matches will be held. The winners will face each other in the final, and the losers will face each other in the match for 3rd place.
