COMPETITION EXPLAINED
The Champions League
In a nutshell
- The Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in the world. The best clubs from the top European leagues compete for the ultimate prize in club football. English clubs have won it 15 times — more than any other country.
How It Works
Since 2024/25, The Champions League uses a “league phase” format. 36 clubs play 8 matches each against a variety of opponents — replacing the old group stage of 6 matches. The top 8 go straight through to the Round of 16. Teams finishing 9th to 24th play in knockout play-off rounds. The bottom 12 are eliminated. From the Round of 16 onwards, it’s two-legged knockout ties until the final, played at a neutral venue in May.
How English Clubs Qualify
From England: the top 4 clubs in the Premier League qualify automatically. In 2025/26, England again claimed a fifth Champions League spot due to their European Performance Spot — so 5 English clubs qualified. The more Premier League clubs succeed in Europe, the more spots England earns. This is why you’ll hear about “UEFA coefficients” — they determine how many spots each country gets.
English Clubs in 2025/26
Arsenal and Manchester City qualified through league position. Aston Villa (Europa League winners) also qualified. Liverpool and potentially one other club also qualified depending on final day results.
Famous History
15 English winners: Liverpool (6), Manchester United (3), Chelsea (2), Nottingham Forest (2), Aston Villa (1), Manchester City (1). The 2019 final was the first all-English final — Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0.
How to Watch in the UK
TNT Sports (subscription required, from £30.99/month). BBC and ITV show selected matches including the final.
