The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League is underway, with Europe's leading club competition entering its 72nd season. UEFA says the competition began on 7 July 2026 and is scheduled to conclude on 5 June 2027. The final will be played at Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid. The stadium previously hosted the Champions League final in 2019. This is the third Champions League season using the league-phase format that replaced the traditional group stage. According to UEFA, 29 teams qualify directly for the league phase. The remaining seven league-phase positions are decided through qualifying, which culminates with the play-offs in August. UEFA notes that published competition dates remain subject to change.