The road to the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group stage is heating up as UEFA has officially conducted the draw for the third qualifying round, revealing a mix of high-stakes encounters for clubs across Europe.
The draw, held on Friday, splits teams into two distinct paths—Champions Path and League Path—based on their qualification routes.
The Champions Path includes domestic league winners who did not qualify automatically for the group stage, while the League Path features non-champion teams from Europe’s top leagues. The first and second legs of these qualifying ties are scheduled for August 5/6 and August 12, 2025, respectively.
Champions Path Fixtures
FC RFS (LVA)/Malmö FF (SWE) vs F.C. Copenhagen (DEN)/FC Drita (KOS)
KuPS Kuopio (FIN)/FC Kairat Almaty (KAZ) vs ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)/HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)
KKS Lech Poznań (POL)/Breidablik (ISL) vs Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)/FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
HNK Rijeka (CRO)/PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) vs FC Noah (ARM)/Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)
Hamrun Spartans F.C. (MLT)/FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) vs Pafos FC (CYP)/Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)
KF Shkëndija (MKD)/Fotbal Club FCSB (ROU) vs Shelbourne FC (IRL)/Qarabağ FK (AZE)
League Path Fixtures
SK Brann (NOR)/FC Salzburg (AUT) vs Club Brugge KV (BEL)
Rangers FC (SCO)/Panathinaikos FC (GRE) vs FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)/Servette FC (SUI)
OGC Nice (FRA) vs SL Benfica (POR)
Feyenoord (NED) vs Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)
The third qualifying round is critical, as it determines who advances to the playoff round—the final hurdle before reaching the lucrative Champions League group stage. Fans can expect thrilling contests as traditional powerhouses like SL Benfica, Feyenoord, and Crvena Zvezda look to secure their place in Europe’s premier club competition.
