The road to the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 has taken another exciting step forward following the official second qualifying round draw held in Nyon, Switzerland, on 17 June 2026.
A total of 28 teams and pairings discovered their next opponents, setting up several intriguing clashes across Europe. The second qualifying round will feature both the Champions Path and League Path, with first-leg matches scheduled for 21-22 July and return fixtures on 28-29 July.
Champions Path Draw
Key Fixtures
- Mjällby AIF (Sweden) vs Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar) / Inter Club d’Escaldes (Andorra)
- Tre Fiori (San Marino) / Larne FC (Northern Ireland) vs Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)
- Sabah FC (Azerbaijan) / The New Saints (Wales) vs Vardar (North Macedonia) / KuPS Kuopio (Finland)
- KÍ Klaksvík (Faroe Islands) / FC Atert Bissen (Luxembourg) vs Kauno Žalgiris (Lithuania) / Drita (Kosovo)
- Aarhus (Denmark) vs Lech Poznań (Poland)
- Ararat-Armenia (Armenia) / Riga FC (Latvia) vs Floriana (Malta) / Shamrock Rovers (Ireland)
- Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia & Herzegovina) / Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) vs ML Vitebsk (Belarus) / Universitatea Craiova (Romania)
- Omonoia (Cyprus) vs Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan) / Sutjeska Nikšić (Montenegro)
- Thun (Switzerland) vs Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
- Víkingur Reykjavík (Iceland) / ETO FC Győr (Hungary) vs Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Israel)
- Flora Tallinn (Estonia) / Iberia 1999 Tbilisi (Georgia) vs Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia)
- Petrocub (Moldova) / Egnatia (Albania) vs Celje (Slovenia)
League Path Draw
Major Matchups
- Fenerbahçe vs Górnik Zabrze
- Sturm Graz vs Heart of Midlothian
These fixtures are expected to attract significant attention as clubs battle for a place in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Teams to Watch
Crvena Zvezda
The Serbian giants enter the qualifying rounds as one of the strongest contenders and will be favorites regardless of whether they face Tre Fiori or Larne FC.
Dinamo Zagreb
Croatia’s champions have extensive European experience and face a challenging encounter against Swiss side Thun.
Fenerbahçe
The Turkish powerhouse will aim to make a strong statement against Poland’s Górnik Zabrze in one of the standout League Path ties.
Lech Poznań vs Aarhus
This fixture could be among the most competitive clashes of the round, featuring two ambitious clubs from strong European leagues.
Match Dates
📅 First Legs: 21-22 July 2026
📅 Second Legs: 28-29 July 2026
The winners will advance to the third qualifying round, moving one step closer to the UEFA Champions League league phase.
