The UEFA Women’s Champions League is entering an exciting new chapter this season, and the draw held in Nyon, Switzerland, on September 19, 2025, set the stage for what promises to be the most competitive edition yet. With a brand-new league phase format and a field stacked with Europe’s elite, the road to the Oslo final is already sparking excitement and intrigue.
A Fresh Format
Gone are the traditional group stages. In their place stands a single league phase involving 18 teams, each playing six fixtures — three at home and three away — against six different opponents. The new structure aims to increase competitiveness while ensuring fans get marquee clashes from the opening matchdays.
The stakes are high. The top four finishers after the league phase will advance directly to the quarter-finals, while teams placed fifth to twelfth must battle through a playoff round for their ticket into the last eight. Those finishing in the bottom six will see their European campaigns end prematurely.
Seeding played a crucial role in the draw, with clubs allocated across three pots based on UEFA coefficients. Importantly, no two teams from the same national association can face each other at this stage, ensuring that English heavyweights Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are spread across distinct challenges.
Key Fixtures to Watch
The draw delivered several blockbuster encounters that underline the competition’s growing strength.
- Arsenal, the reigning champions, will defend their crown against a daunting lineup. Home ties against Lyon, Real Madrid, and Twente promise drama at the Emirates, while trips to Bayern Munich, Benfica, and OH Leuven will test their resilience.
- Chelsea also face a demanding calendar, with glamour ties at home against Barcelona, Roma, and Paris FC. Away fixtures at Wolfsburg, St. Pölten, and Twente add a layer of unpredictability as the Blues seek to balance domestic and European ambitions.
- Manchester United, competing in their first-ever Women’s Champions League campaign, have drawn some of the competition’s most storied names. Hosting Lyon, PSG, and Vålerenga gives Old Trafford its first taste of European nights, while away days at Wolfsburg, Juventus, and Atlético Madrid will push Marc Skinner’s side to their limits.
Elsewhere, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain all landed high-profile clashes of their own, underscoring how even the most established clubs cannot take progression for granted. All English representatives should be quite happy with that draw and be confident of progression.
A Calendar of High Stakes
The league phase unfolds over six matchdays: October 7–8, October 15–16, November 11–12, November 19–20, December 9–10, and December 17. Each week promises to deliver headline-grabbing contests that could shape the quarter-final race.
From there, the surviving teams will march toward the season’s showpiece occasion — the final at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway. For one club, it will be a night of history, silverware, and European immortality.
The Bigger Picture
This draw signals not just the beginning of a season but the dawn of a new format designed to elevate women’s football on the continent. The league phase guarantees more blockbuster encounters, more opportunities for underdogs to shock giants, and more storylines for fans to follow across Europe.
With English clubs well-represented, Spanish and French powerhouses on the hunt, and rising challengers eager to make their mark, the stage is perfectly set. From October through to Oslo, the 2025/26 Women’s Champions League promises to be a defining moment in the sport’s evolution.
Disney+ will be the home of the UEFA Women’s Champions League across Europe from next season, allowing fans to watch every match live at no extra cost.