The Women’s Champions League is back this week, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting season with three Women’s Super League teams in the mix. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are all looking to make their mark on the competition. Arsenal, the reigning champions, are aiming to defend their title, while Chelsea is eager to lift the trophy for the first time. Manchester United is making their debut in this stage of the tournament, adding an element of surprise to the mix.
The 2025/26 competition comes with a new format, mirroring changes made to the men’s competition in the previous season. The tournament now features a single league phase with 18 teams, each playing fixtures against six different opponents. Half of the matches are held at home and the other half away. The 18 teams in the competition include familiar names like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona, as well as newcomers like Benfica and OH Leuven. The results of each match will determine the overall ranking of the teams, with the top four automatically qualifying for the quarter-finals.
The league phase matches are scheduled to take place between October and December 2025, setting the stage for an intense competition. The knockout stages will follow in February 2026, with the quarter-finals taking place in March and the semi-finals in April. The final is set to be held on the weekend of 22–24 May 2026 at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway. Lyon, the most successful team in the competition with eight titles, will be a team to watch, along with three-time champions Barcelona and reigning champions Arsenal. Chelsea will also be a team to keep an eye on, as they look to secure their first European trophy.
