Road to the Final: Timeline & Format Explained

The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 will feature a new brave design and provide more games, more big matches, and more competition time. With a new 36-team league phase 'group' stage format replacing the previous group stage, the road to the final in Budapest will never have been this before. For fans who want to understand the new format, here is a full breakdown of the Champions League 2025/26 format, from qualifying rounds to knockout play-offs, and where you can follow all of the action live on tapmad in Pakistan.

Qualifying Rounds – Summer Begins

The start of the route for Europe's biggest prize will begin with the qualifying rounds taking place in June and July 2025. Following the UCL qualifying paths, clubs from smaller associations must come through several stages of qualifying (for the group stage, or league phase). The qualifying rounds will be separated into 3 qualifying rounds and play-offs, as follows:

1st and 2nd qualifying rounds: first entrants being normal league champion clubs whose leagues are usually smaller.

3rd qualifying round and play-offs: entrants being higher rank clubs qualifying as non-champions from better average leagues.

When August starts, the winners of all qualifying paths will take their place in the new league phase, while those who fail to progress will drop to the Europa League. The various entry avenues will give representation from all parts of Europe and will continue a sense of inclusivity for the betterment of the competition.

League-Phase Schedule – 36 Teams, Swiss-Style Format

Replacing the traditional group stage, UEFA has introduced a Swiss-style league phase:

• 36 teams instead of 32.
   
• Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents (two drawn from each pot of nine).
   
• Four home, four away—ensuring variety and balance.
   
• No repeated fixtures, unlike the old group system.
   

This stage begins on 16 September 2025 and runs until 28 January 2026, with key dates stretched across eight matchdays 

 

Knockout Play-Offs – The New Entry Point

One of the greatest changes in the format of the Champions League 2025/26 is the introduction of knockout play-offs:

The Top 8 Clubs after the league phase will proceed directly to the Round of 16.

Teams placed 9–24 will enter into a two-legged knockout play-off round in February 2026.

Teams that win that round will progress to the Round of 16, and teams that lose will be eliminated completely.

Teams placed 25–36 that make it to the play-off round would have their European campaign end (and there is no Europa League to fall back on).

This also puts more at stake in the mid-table section and makes matches between 15th and 20th meaningful again. Plus, this will create more knockout-style fixtures throughout the season.

Knockout Rounds – Familiar Format Resumes

After the play-offs, the traditional knockout path continues:

• Round of 16: March 2026
   
• Quarter-finals: April 2026
   
• Semi-finals: Late April – early May 2026
   

Each stage remains two-legged, home and away, with the away goals rule abolished since 2021. Drama often peaks here, with Europe’s elite battling in back-to-back encounters.

The Budapest Final – 30 May 2026

The journey concludes at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on 30 May 2026. Hosting its first-ever Champions League final, the 67,000-capacity venue adds history to the competition’s expanding global reach.

The winners will not only claim Europe’s crown but also secure spots in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup—a reminder of the tournament’s global significance.

 

Why Fans Should Follow the New Format

The restructured path brings fresh excitement:

• Bigger clashes earlier: With seeded pots mixing giants and mid-tier clubs, heavyweight duels could occur in September.
   
• More knockout matches: The addition of play-offs means more high-pressure nights.
   
• No safety nets: Unlike the past, clubs outside the top 24 are eliminated outright, intensifying competition.
   

For viewers, this means more drama, unpredictability, and high-quality football across the calendar year.

Broadcast & Streaming Access

Fans across the world can follow the Champions League 2025/26 format through various broadcasters:

• Europe: TNT Sports (UK), DAZN, Canal+
   
• USA: CBS/Paramount+
   
• MENA: beIN SPORTS
   
• Canada: DAZN
   
• Pakistan: The entire competition—including qualifying rounds, league phase, knockout play-offs, and the Budapest final—will be streamed live on tapmad.

Conclusion

The road to the Champions League final, 2025/26 is longer, harder and more exciting as we embark on the qualifying rounds through summer, entering the league-phase schedule and the ultimate play-off knockout stage for the first time. With each destination comes more drama, with our destination being Budapest, and we will arrive on 30 May 2026! But for the fans in Pakistan, the journey begins now! All of it is available live on tapmad!