Practice English with NewsPractice with News
Sports271 words2 min read

Champions League 2026-2027: What to Know

gold-colored trophy and soccerball
Photo by Fauzan Saari on Unsplash

Football fans across Europe are turning their attention to the upcoming 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League season, as details begin to surface regarding the format, participants, and broadcasting arrangements for the new edition.

Among the key points of interest is the fixture schedule, which will determine the dates on which matches take place throughout the tournament. Supporters are equally keen to discover which clubs will be drawn as opponents, shaping the storylines of the competition from its opening rounds.

French clubs are anticipated to feature in the tournament once again, continuing the country's long-standing presence in Europe's premier club competition, though specific participants have yet to be confirmed based on currently available information.

A significant aspect for fans will be the broadcast rights, determining which television networks will carry live coverage of the matches. This is particularly important for supporters who wish to follow their favourite teams throughout the season.

The tournament continues to operate under the league phase format, a structural change introduced in recent seasons that replaced the traditional group-stage system. Under this model, clubs compete against a larger number of opponents in a single table before the leading teams progress to the knockout rounds.

Attention is also being paid to the opening matchday of the league phase, which will mark the official start of the competition and set the tone for the months of football to follow.

As the season draws closer, more comprehensive details regarding fixtures, participating clubs, and television coverage are expected to be released, giving fans a clearer picture of what promises to be another highly anticipated Champions League campaign.

Vocabulary7 words

UEFA Champions League
the top football competition for European clubs
edition
one version of a yearly event
fixture schedule
list of dates when matches happen
opponents
teams that play against each other
broadcast rights
legal permission to show something on TV
league phase
an early stage where many teams play several games
knockout rounds
later stage where losers are removed from the competition

Quiz

1. What is the 'league phase' format designed to replace?
2. According to the article, what remains unconfirmed?
3. Are broadcast rights mentioned as important to fans?

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think broadcast rights are so important to football fans?
  2. How might the league phase format change the excitement of early-season matches compared to the old group stage?
  3. Do you think French clubs have a strong history in the Champions League? Why or why not?
  4. What information would you most want to know before a big football season begins?

More Sports stories