UEFA Women’s Champions League 2026-27: Season Preview, Key Storylines, and Teams to Watch

Europe’s premier club competition returns, with the road to the final in Warsaw, Poland beginning now. The 2026-27 UEFA Women’s Champions League kicks off Tuesday with the league phase underway.

Eighteen teams, six matches, and a single table will determine seeding for the knockout rounds. Reigning champions FC Barcelona defend their title without Alexia Putellas, while debutants Inter Milan and Austria Wien join the mix of established contenders and ambitious newcomers.

All matches stream on Paramount+, which broadcasts all 183 games—the most ever in the expanded format. CBS Sports Network airs one match per matchweek, with select games on CBS Sports Golazo Network.

This marks the second season under the single-league format replacing the former group stage. All 18 clubs compete in one table, playing six matches—two against opponents from three seeding pots, with three home and three away fixtures. The draw produced compelling matchups, including Arsenal versus Barcelona and OL Lyonnes in later league-phase games.

The top four advance directly to the quarterfinals, while fifth through 12th enter a knockout playoff round for the remaining quarterfinal spots.

Here are the contenders, long shots, and underdogs:

Schedule

All times U.S. Eastern

Tuesday, Sept. 22
UWCL: Bayern Munich vs. Man City, 12:45 p.m. Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
UWCL: Inter vs. Hacken, 12:45 p.m. Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
UWCL: Arsenal vs. HB Koge, 3 p.m. Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
UWCL: Juventus vs. Benfica, 3 p.m. Paramount+
UWCL: Real Madrid vs. PSG, 3 p.m. Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network

Wednesday, Sept. 23
UWCL: OH Leuven vs. Roma, 12:45 p.m. Paramount+
UWCL: Servette vs. OL Lyonnes, 12:45 p.m. Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
UWCL: Barcelona vs. Paris FC, 3 p.m. Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
UWCL: Chelsea vs. Austria Wien, 3 p.m. Paramount+, CBS Sports Network

The Contenders

FC Barcelona enter as favorites with seven final appearances, six consecutive, and four titles. Without Alexia Putellas—now at London City Lionesses after 14 seasons in Spain—they rely on healthy Aitana Bonmatí. Pere Romeu’s squad remains largely intact, built around technical midfield play and possession-based football.

OL Lyonnes seek redemption after finishing runners-up to Barcelona last season. They’ve signed Paralluelo from Barcelona and feature Ballon d’Or nominee Melchie Dumornay. Back-to-back runner-up finishes in three seasons provide extra motivation.

England sends multiple contenders. Chelsea faces significant change after losing Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten, Catalina Macario, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, and Niamh Charles. Arsenal, reigning champions from two seasons ago, bid farewell to Katie McCabe and Beth Mead while adding Georgia Stanway and Ona Batlle. They host OL Lyonnes in November after home games against Benfica and HB Koge.

Manchester City debut in the league phase as WSL champions, completing England’s trio of representatives. Led by Golden Boot winner Bunny Shaw and featuring Lauren Hemp, Alex Greenwood, and offseason signing Beth Mead, they’re poised to compete.

The Newcomers

Austria Wien and Inter Milan make their first appearances.

Austria Wien qualified dramatically, overturning a first-leg deficit against Brann with a hat trick by Modesta Uka. They ended St. Polten’s decade-long domestic dominance and completed a league-cup double.

Inter Milan earned their spot via a penalty shootout thriller against Wolfsburg in the third qualifying round. Belgian international Tessa Wullaert and former Brown standout Brittany Raphino lead their attack.

The Long Shots

HB Koge and Servette FC return after absences, joining Roma, Benfica, OH Leuven, and Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG crashed out last season as 17th of 18 teams but qualified via a third-place domestic finish and playoff win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

HB Koge won a Danish double behind veteran forward Nadia Nadim, league top scorer. Servette return after a four-year absence following their own domestic double, though they lose striker Therese Simonsson to RB Leipzig.

OH Leuven, last season’s debutants, reach the knockout play-offs but struggled against Arsenal. Kadhiya de Ceuster bolsters their front line. Roma arrive as Italian champions but lost Evelyne Viens and Emilie Haavi after finishing 14th last season.

Benfica return after winning Portugal‘s league, adding Dutch international Froya Dorsin, Chinese international Ziqin Shao, and Nigerian international Flourish Sabastine.

The Underdogs

Bayern Munich face Real Madrid, BK Hacken, Juventus, and Paris FC as the only German representative. They lose Georgia Stanway to Arsenal but rely on Pernille Harder.

Real Madrid lose captain Misa Rodriguez and top scorer Caroline Weir to Arsenal, placing faith in Linda Caicedo to lead the rebuild.

Juventus miss captain Cristiana Girelli and Barbara Bonansea, both loaned to NWSL clubs, but hope for favorable draws against Benfica, Austria Wien, and OH Leuven.

BK Hacken make their sixth appearance as reigning Women’s Europa Cup winners, led by manager Elena Sadiku and Nigerian international Joy Omew.

Paris FC claim second place in France behind OL Lyonnes, with new signing Evelyne Viens joining Clara Matéo.

What’s Next

The league phase runs September 22-23, with matchday two on September 30.

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