UEFA Women's Champions League The third qualifying round of the 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League brought fans plenty of excitement and a few unexpected twists. Nine two-legged ties, four in the champions’ path and five in the league path, determined the final teams that joined the seeded giants. As a result, we now know the complete lineup of 18 teams for the league phase, a brand-new stage of the competition debuting in this format this season.
Results of the Third Qualifying Round
Champions’ Path
- Vålerenga – Ferencváros 5:1 (3:1, 2:0)
- OH Leuven – Vorskla Poltava 2:0 (1:0, 1:0)
- St. Pölten – Fortuna Hjørring 5:2 (3:1, 2:1)
- Twente – GKS Katowice 8:1 (4:1, 4:0)
League Path
- Atlético Madrid – Häcken 3:2 after extra time (1:1, 2:1 a.e.t.)
- Paris FC – Austria Vienna 2:0 (0:0, 2:0)
- Manchester United – Brann 3:1 (0:1, 3:0)
- Real Madrid – Eintracht Frankfurt 5:1 (2:0, 3:1)
- Roma – Sporting CP 3:2 (1:2, 2:0)
Full List of League Phase Participants
Direct entrants: Arsenal, Lyon, PSG, Bayern, Wolfsburg, Barcelona, Chelsea, Benfica, Juventus.
Through qualification: Vålerenga, OH Leuven, St. Pölten, Twente, Atlético Madrid, Paris FC, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Roma.
Together, they make up an elite field of 18 teams for the 2025/26 season – a mix of established giants of women’s football and sides that have been rapidly developing in recent years.
League Phase Schedule
In the league phase, each team will play six matches (three at home, three away) this autumn:
- Start: October 7–8, 2025
- End: December 17, 2025 (Matchday 6)
What Comes Next?
- Teams finishing 1st–4th in the league standings will qualify directly for the quarterfinals.
- Teams in 5th–12th place will compete in play-offs, with the winners joining the top four in the quarterfinals.
Knockout Phase Calendar
- Play-offs: February 11–12 and 18–19, 2026
- Quarterfinals: March 24–25 (first legs) and April 1–2, 2026 (second legs)
- Semifinals: April 25–26 (first legs) and May 2–3, 2026 (second legs)
- Final: May 22–24, 2026, Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo
Summary
The third qualifying round had it all: from one-sided affairs (Twente, Real Madrid), through tight battles (Roma vs. Sporting), to real thrillers with extra time (Atlético vs. Häcken). The top favorites confirmed their strength, but some teams had to give everything on the pitch to earn their spot among the elite.
Now comes the league phase, which promises to be a real spectacle – 18 teams, including the biggest powerhouses and ambitious challengers, fighting for a place in the spring knockouts. Excitement is guaranteed, and women’s football fans can already start counting down the days until October.
