Dates for the 2025/26 Women Champions League and second competition (still without name) on the new calendar UWCL QR1 starts straight after the women euro 2025 finishes end of July. Then a month later QR2 games. In September QR3 as well as second competition Q1 with the teams eliminated from WCL QR1 and QR2.
Well, two things come to mind: 1. There are definitely arguments to be made for not simply copying the men for everything, if some people are concerned about always looking subordinate/not establishing their own identity. (IMO in some places this is a very good argument, in others it's not, and I'm not sure where this "second competition" falls in that scale) 2. Branding and rights. It's easy to call something a "champions leagues" because those are just regular words you'll encounter in everyday use, plus a ton of competitions already use those terms so there's precedent for copying the terminology. "Europa" is a proper noun, though, so it's harder to use freely without invoking thoughts of something else, and on top of that it might be tied up in legal/media rights in such a way that they can't just slap the name on another tournament freely.
I am sure marketing consideration are in place and UEFA wants a different branding which makes sense as the Champions League name is strong but Europa and Conference names are not. So it makes sense to look to differentiate the product.
First qualifying round (one-venue mini-tournaments) Draw: 16 June, Nyon (date TBC) Semi-finals: 30 July Final/third-place play-off: 2 August Second qualifying round (one-venue mini-tournaments) Draw: 16 June, Nyon (date TBC) Semi-finals: 27 August Final/third-place play-off: 30 August Third qualifying round Draw: 1 September Nyon (date TBC) First leg: 11 September Second leg: 18 September League phase Draw: 19 September, Nyon (date TBC) Matchday 1: 7/8 October Matchday 2: 15/16 October Matchday 3: 11/12 November Matchday 4: 19/20 November Matchday 5: 9/10 December Matchday 6: 17 December Knockout phase play-offs Draw: 19 December, Nyon (date TBC) First leg: 11/12 February Second leg: 18/19 February Quarter-finals Draw: 19 December, Nyon (date TBC) First leg: 24/25 March Second leg: 1/2 April Semi-finals Draw: 19 December, Nyon (date TBC) First leg: 25/26 April Second leg: 2/3 May Final (Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo) 22, 23 or 24 May tbc
With the latest provisional access list from UEFA, we now know the teams that get a second chance after being eliminated from the Champions League. Champions path Qualfiying Round 1 (mini-tournament) from Poland ranked 28 to Association ranked 52 => all teams eliminated are totally out. Champions path Qualifying Round 2 (mini-tournament) 7 teams finishing in third place go to the UWEC QR1 7 teams finishing in second place go to the UWEC QR2 League path Qualifying Round 2 ( mini-tournament) 7 teams finishing in third place go to the UWEC QR1 7 teams finishing in second place go to the UWEC QR2 Champions path Qualifying Round 3 4 losers go to the UWEC QR2 League path Qualifying Round 3 5 losers go the UWEC QR2 Total 31 teams from the UEFA Women Champions League end up in the UEFA Women Europa Cup.
[QUOTE="SiberianThunderT, post: 41884831, member: 133631" It does make me wonder how the access list will get adjusted for the 2C TH since it's almost certain they would have qualified for the CL otherwise. (I'm not familiar with how the men do it, I don't follow the UMCL that much.)[/QUOTE] And four months later we get an answer as the rules have been published: "Associations are represented on the following basis (see Annex A): a. one representative: winner of the top domestic women’s championship; b. two representatives: winner and runner-up of the top domestic women’s championship; c. three representatives: winner, runner-up and third-placed club in the top domestic women’s championship" "Additionally, the UEFA Women's Champions League titleholder is guaranteed a place in the league phase and the UEFA Women's Europa Cup titleholder is guaranteed a place in the third qualifying round of the champions path even if they do not qualify for the competition through their domestic championships." The following ruling is quite interesting: "If the UEFA Women’s Champions League titleholder qualifies for the league phase of the competition through its domestic championship, the vacancy created in the league phase is filled by the UEFA Women's Europa Cup titleholder. In the absence of a UEFA Women's Europa Cup titleholder, the vacancy in the league phase is filled by the domestic champion with the highest individual club coefficient of all the clubs that qualify for the second qualifying round of the champions path and the vacancy left by the UEFA Women's Europa Cup titleholder in the third qualifying round of the champions path is filled by the domestic champion with the next highest individual club coefficient of all the clubs that qualify for the second qualifying round of the champions path. The champions path is adapted accordingly, with each subsequent vacancy in the second qualifying round filled by the club(s) with the highest individual club coefficient(s) of all clubs in the first qualifying round of the champions path."
A couple of teams have qualified this week-end: Chelsea are guaranteed at least third place, entering in the Qualifying Round 2 League path at least. More likely will win the League and enter in the League phase. Lyon have qualified for the League phase as they have won the regular season. Direct qualification for the League Stage: Title holder France play-off winners, Lyon Germany League winner, Germany League runner-up, Spain League winner, England League winner, Portugal League winner Italy League winner
Expanding on this point "If the UEFA Women’s Champions League titleholder qualifies for the league phase of the competition through its domestic championship, the vacancy created in the league phase is filled by the UEFA Women's Europa Cup titleholder. In the absence of a UEFA Women's Europa Cup titleholder, the vacancy in the league phase is filled by the domestic champion with the highest individual club coefficient of all the clubs that qualify for the second qualifying round of the champions path and the vacancy left by the UEFA Women's Europa Cup titleholder in the third qualifying round of the champions path is filled by the domestic champion with the next highest individual club coefficient of all the clubs that qualify for the second qualifying round of the champions path. The champions path is adapted accordingly, with each subsequent vacancy in the second qualifying round filled by the club(s) with the highest individual club coefficient(s) of all clubs in the first qualifying round of the champions path." From Sweden to Slovenia those countries champions must hope that Barcelona, Chelsea or Lyon win the tournament this season so that they go directly to the League phase. Rosengard 28.933 is the current team already qualified with the best club coefficient and St Polten with 31.150 is the only Champion that could overtake them.
Ranking points method has changed a bit due to the League phase as teams making the League phase will get disproportionate number of points. D.4.1 Points awarded in the UEFA Women's Champions League a. First qualifying round: ▪ 0.5 points for a club defeated in a third-place match ▪ ▪▪ 1 point for the winner of a third-place match (four-team mini-tournament) or a club defeated in a MD1 semi-final (three-team mini-tournament) ▪ 1.5 points for a defeated finalist b. Second qualifying round: ▪ 2 points for a club defeated in a third-place match ▪ ▪ 1 point for the winner of a third-place match ▪▪ 1.5 points for a defeated finalist c. Third qualifying round: ▪ 2 points for each defeated team d. League phase onwards (except knockout phase play-offs) ▪ 2 points for a win ▪ ▪ 1 point for a draw ▪▪ 0 points for a defeat D.5 Bonus points Clubs are awarded the following bonus points based on their final position in the league phase rankings: League phase ranking UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) 1 10.000 2 9.750 3 9.500 4 9.250 5 9.000 6 8.750 7 8.500 8 8.250 9 8.000 10 7.750 11 7.500 12 7.250 13 7.000 14 7.000 15 7.000 16 7.000 17 7.000 18 7.000 Clubs that reach the round of 16 in the UEFA Women's Europa Cup are awarded 2.5 extra points. Clubs that reach the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final are awarded 1 extra point for each such round in the UEFA Women's Champions League, and 0.5 extra points for each such round in the UEFA Women's Europa Cup. These bonus points are also included in the association coefficient calculation. For example a team that win their six League phase game and finish top of the League will get 10+ 6x2 = 22 points. And will get extra points from the knock-out stage.
Lyon and Benfica have qualified for the League phase. Portugal champions for Benfica and France second slot for Lyon.
Update: Direct qualification for the League Stage: Title holder (Lyon or Barca or Arsenal or Chelsea) France play-off winners, Lyon Germany League winner, Germany League runner-up, Spain League winner, England League winner, Portugal Benfica Italy Juventus
Direct qualification for the League phase: Title holder ( Barca or Arsenal) France Lyon & Paris SG Germany Bayern, Wolfsburg Spain Barcelona England Chelsea Portugal Benfica Italy Juventus Note: if Barcelona win the 2024/25 edition, they qualify as title holder and their other spot is taken by St Polten who have the highest coefficient. If Arsenal win the 2024/25 they are the ninth and final team directly qualifying.
Top 7 nations with qualified teams: France: Lyon, Paris SG, Paris FC Germany: Bayern, Wolfsburg, Frankfurt Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid England: Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United Portugal: Benfica, Sporting, Braga Italy: Juventus, Inter, Roma Sweden: Rosengard, Hacken, Hammarby
The draw dates have changed: First qualifying round (one-venue mini-tournaments) Draw: 24 June, Nyon Semi-finals: 30 July Final/third-place play-off: 2 August Second qualifying round (one-venue mini-tournaments) Draw: 24 June, Nyon Semi-finals: 27 August Final/third-place play-off: 30 August Third qualifying round Draw: 31 August, Nyon First leg: 11 September Second leg: 18 September
French tv channel l'Equipe TV have bought the rights for one game per matchday for the Ligue phase and the knock-out stage. They will show on priority one of the French team, so one game per week on free tv in France.Everything other game will be Disney + with a subscription.
And the contenders are now known, there will be 74 teams from 50 association in the tournament. Nine teams enter directly in the League four teams will come from the Champions path and five from the League path. The Champions path has three rounds while the League path has only two rounds. First qualifying round (one-venue mini-tournaments) Draw: 12:00 CET, 24 June, Nyon Semi-finals: 30 July Final/third-place play-off: 2 August Second qualifying round (one-venue mini-tournaments) Draw: 14:00 CET, 24 June, Nyon Semi-finals: 27 August Final/third-place play-off: 30 August Third qualifying round Draw: 31 August, Nyon First leg: 11 September Second leg: 18 September
Champions path: Enter in first qualifying round 1 Racing FC Union Luxembourg (LUX) 7.500 2 Tallinna FC Flora (EST) 6.000 3 Kiryat Gat (ISR) 6.000 4 Lanchkhuti (GEO) 5.500 5 Agarista CSF Anenii Noi 2020 (MDA) 5.500 6 NSA Sofia (BUL) 4.500 7 Mitrovica (KOS) 4.000 8 Spartak Myjava (SVK) 4.000 9 Ljuboten (MKD) 3.500 10 Agram (CRO) 2.100 11 Cardiff City (WAL) 2.000 12 Ankara Büyükşehir Belediyesi Fomget (TUR) 1.900 13 AEK Athens (GRE) 1.800 14 Athlone Town (IRL) 1.600 15 Swieqi United (MLT) 1.500 16 Riga FC (LVA) 1.300 17 Budućnost (MNE) 1.300 18 Cliftonville (NIR) 1.200 19 Pyunik (ARM) 1.000 20 Neftçi (AZE) 1.000 21 NSÍ Runavík (FRO) 1.000 Enter in second qualifying round: 1 Slavia Praha (CZE) 24.000 2 Rosengård (SWE) 24.000 3 Twente (NED) 16.000 4 Vålerenga (NOR) 16.000 5 Vorskla Poltava (UKR) 14.000 6 BIIK-Shymkent (KAZ) 13.500 7 Vllaznia (ALB) 13.000 8 Apollon LFC (CYP) 12.000 9 Mura (SVN) 11.000 10 SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH) 10.000 11 Gintra (LTU) 9.000 12 Ferencváros (HUN) 9.000 13 Fortuna Hjørring (DEN) 9.000 14 Breidablik (ISL) 8.500 15 Dinamo-BSUPC (BLR) 7.000 16 Young Boys (SUI) 2.850 17 Hibernian (SCO) 2.400 18 Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 2.300 19 OH Leuven (BEL) 2.200 20 Farul Constanța (ROU) 2.000 21 HJK Helsinki (FIN) 1.900 22 GKS Katowice (POL) 1.800 Enter in third qualifying round: 1 St. Pölten (AUT) 27.000
League path Enter in second qualifying round: 1 Roma (ITA) 32.000 2 Sparta Praha (CZE) 21.000 3 Brann (NOR) 17.000 4 Manchester United (ENG) 13.699 5 Valur (ISL) 11.500 6 FC Minsk (BLR) 10.500 7 Glasgow City (SCO) 10.000 8 Hammarby (SWE) 8.000 9 Inter (ITA) 7.600 10 Metalist 1925 Kharkiv (UKR) 7.000 11 Braga (POR) 6.600 12 PSV Eindhoven (NED) 5.000 13 Austria Wien (AUT) 4.150 14 Nordsjaelland (DEN) 2.950 15 Aktobe (KAZ) 1.950 Enter in third qualifying round: 1 Real Madrid (ESP) 43.000 2 Häcken (SWE) 28.000 3 Paris FC (FRA) 14.000 4 Atlético de Madrid (ESP) 13.399 5 Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 12.500 6 Sporting CP (POR) 6.600
UEFA have also updated the access list that ended up quite different from the original one. Champions path Sankt Polten (Austria champion) enter in QR3 instead of the UWEC title-holder. Russia not allowed to participate, Poland Champion moved up to QR2 Lithuania Champion move to QR2 to replace Austria Champion League path England runner-up originally in QR3 moved up to League phase entry as title holder and replaced by Hacken promoted to QR3 which means only 15 teams in QR2