Europe’s biggest club competition, the UEFA Women’s Champions League, is officially back, and the journey to the final in Warsaw, Poland, kicks off this Tuesday! The 2026-27 league phase begins with 18 teams, six games each, and one table to sort out who moves on to the knockout rounds. This season is looking wild.
The New Format and The Teams to Watch
This is the second season running under the expanded single-league format, which scrapped the old group stages. Now, all 18 teams are thrown into one massive table, playing six matches each: two against opponents from three different seeding pots, with three home games and three away. It is pure chaos, and we love it. Reigning champions FC Barcelona are back to defend their title, but this time around, they are doing it without Alexia Putellas, which is a massive storyline heading into the season. You have to wonder how that changes their dynamic. Plus, we’ve got debutants Inter Milan and Austria Wien joining the fray, adding even more unpredictability to the mix. After these six league phase games, the top four teams in the table automatically move into the quarterfinal rounds. Teams in fifth through 12th place will battle it out in a knockout playoff for the remaining quarterfinal spots. Oh, and for all you US fans, there are 15 Americans taking the European stage in the UWCL this season!
Where to Catch the Action and Key Matchups
The draw has already given us some absolutely intriguing matchups to look forward to, including some heavyweight clashes later in the league phase with Arsenal meeting Barcelona and OL Lyonnes. Barcelona has a storied history in this tournament, making seven title-game appearances, including six in a row, and lifting the trophy four times. You know they are still the team to beat, even without Putellas. Fans can catch all 183 matches live on Paramount+, which is a record number for the competition’s new format. CBS Sports Network will also air one match per matchweek, with select games broadcast on CBS Sports Golazo Network.
The action starts right away on Tuesday, September 22nd, with Bayern Munich taking on Man City, Inter facing Hacken, Arsenal going up against HB Koge, Juventus meeting Benfica, and Real Madrid battling PSG. Then on Wednesday, September 23rd, we’ve got OH Leuven vs. Roma, Servette vs. OL Lyonnes, Barcelona vs. Paris FC, and Chelsea vs. Austria Wien. Get ready, because the road to Warsaw is officially underway, and these early games are going to set the tone for an epic season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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