Teams Qualified & Seedings: Who’s in the League Phase

UEFA Champions League 2025/26 marks a historic occurrence with the introduction of the 36-team league-phase format. With the qualifying rounds completed and automatic spots now set, we are excited to show you all the clubs set to enter this new format. With a dynamic group of clubs, from juggernauts in Real Madrid and Manchester City to new entrants like Union Saint-Gilloise, this season's clubs are a perfect mix of tradition and opportunity. 

For fans in Pakistan, there is no better place to catch all Champions League 2025/26 qualified teams in action than tapmad, your local trusted operator in UEFA's elite competition.

Expanded Slots – Six English Clubs

One of the more significant headlines of the season is the arrival of six English clubs. After UEFA's coefficient and the success of Premier League teams in Europe last season, England were granted five automatic league-phase spots. Hitting a record of six clubs in the English Premier League, we saw one more club successfully get through to the qualifying round, in addition to the five English clubs. 

With England having the most clubs competing in a tournament, we have Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Newcastle United on the tournament roster.

Debutants & Returning Clubs

Union Saint-Gilloise: This Belgian side will debut in the Champions League group phase after having impressed domestically.

Hamburger SV (Germany): They capitalised on the wave of the Bundesliga promotion and made their way back to the European competition after several years.

Celtic & Rangers: They are reviving the Old Firm presence on the European stage.

Automatic Qualifiers

Some of the most familiar names of Europe automatically qualified and entered the league phase, thanks to their strong domestic campaigns:

• Spain: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid.
   
• Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig.
   
• Italy: Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli.
   
• France: Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Lille.
   
• Portugal: Benfica, Porto, Sporting CP.

Pot Seedings for the League Phase

The teams are split into four pots of nine clubs by UEFA coefficients. This process is in place to create balanced fixtures as well as have some variation of clubs across Europe. The teams that qualified for the  UEFA Champions League 2025/26 are: 

• Pot 1 (Top Seeds):  Some recent winners of the league are included, along with Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, and Benfica.
• Pot 2: Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, Porto. 
• Pot 3: Napoli, RB Leipzig, Chelsea, Manchester United, Monaco, Sporting CP.
• Pot 4 (Lower Seeds): A few other qualifiers along with Union Saint-Gilloise, Celtic, Rangers, Newcastle United, Lille

Every club plays eight matches against clubs with different pots to include as varied matches as possible, but also includes a certain number of matches with higher stakes.

Impact of Seedings

The pot system ensures more clashes between Europe’s elite early in the season. For example:

• Fans could see Bayern Munich face Barcelona in September.
   
• Or a Pot 4 underdog like Union Saint-Gilloise hosts Manchester City, a once-in-a-lifetime fixture.

Why This Season Stands Out

• More Clubs: 36 instead of 32.
   
• More Matches: Eight league-phase fixtures per team.
   
• More Drama: Underdogs facing heavyweights earlier in the competition.
   
• No Safety Net: Teams finishing outside the top 24 are eliminated immediately.

This structural change reshapes the competition, making each match vital for progression.

Broadcast & Streaming Guide

Coverage of the Champions League 2025/26 qualified teams is global:

• Europe: TNT Sports (UK), Canal+, DAZN.
   
• USA: CBS & Paramount+.
   
• MENA: beIN SPORTS.
   
• Canada: DAZN.
   
• Pakistan: tapmad ensures fans catch every league-phase clash, from Union Saint-Gilloise’s debut to Real Madrid’s latest campaign.

Conclusion

The Champions League 2025/26 qualified teams showcase a history of tradition combined with evolution: six English teams are leading this charge, teams like Union Saint-Gilloise are getting their first introduction on the big stage, and the heavyweights of Europe are anchoring the pots. With the new 36-team league phase format, every match will mean something as never before. For the fans in Pakistan, the only place to follow every seed, every match, and the road to Budapest is tapmad.