The 2026/27 edition of the Women’s Champions League will continue using the league-phase format introduced last season, starting on September 22. FC Barcelona Femení, reigning European champions and Spanish league leaders, have already secured their spot among the eight seeded teams for the group stage draw scheduled for September 4.
Alongside Barcelona in Pot 1 are league champions Manchester City and Arsenal from England, OL Lyon and Paris FC from France, Bayern Munich from Germany, Roma from Italy, Benfica from Portugal, and Häcken, Sweden’s champion and Europa League winner. This seeding guarantees Barcelona will face teams from the second and third pots, filled by clubs advancing through several qualifying rounds.
Qualified teams such as Real Madrid and Real Sociedad (2nd and 3rd in Spain), Chelsea and Wolfsburg (3rd and 2nd in England and Germany respectively), PSG, and others from Italy and the Netherlands will battle it out in the preliminary stages between July and early September. The third qualifying round draw is set for August 11.
The group stage will consist of six matchdays where each team plays three home and three away matches against six different clubs. Following this, the tournament advances to knockout stages including playoffs, quarterfinals, and semifinals. The final is fixed for May 29, 2027, at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
Alexia Putellas, MVP of the recent 2025-26 season and Barcelona star, will not feature this season after her transfer to London City Lionesses. Should her new team finish in England’s top three, she could meet Barcelona again in the 2027-28 Champions League. Last season’s top scorer, Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor, recorded 11 goals and remains a key player for the club’s European ambitions.
With the group compositions and schedule established, Barcelona can map out its route to defend the Champions League title and prepare for the challenges posed by Europe’s elite.
