# 2027–28 UEFA Champions League
The 2027–28 [UEFA Champions League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-champions-league) will be the 73rd season of Europe's premier club football competition, the fourth under the 36-team league phase format introduced in 2024/25, and the first season of a new commercial cycle that adds a standalone opening fixture for the titleholder and a global streaming package.[1](https://apnews.com/article/0eec0f8154e8778a02bb886bb9a42b38) • [2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a6-20d57cfcd03e-407c22a7f465-1000--2026-27-champions-league-teams-dates-draws-format-final/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season number | 73rd season of the competition formerly known as the European Cup; fourth under the league phase format[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a6-20d57cfcd03e-407c22a7f465-1000--2026-27-champions-league-teams-dates-draws-format-final/) |
| New opening fixture | The Champions League holders will play a standalone opening fixture at home from the 2027/28 season[3](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/champions-league-holders-fixture-2027-28-b2844642.html) |
| Commercial cycle | Six-year rights sales deal with the agency Relevent through 2033, signed by UEFA and the European Football Clubs group (UC3)[1](https://apnews.com/article/0eec0f8154e8778a02bb886bb9a42b38) |
| Revenue target | New contracts are intended to drive annual revenue above 5 billion euros ($5.8 billion)[1](https://apnews.com/article/0eec0f8154e8778a02bb886bb9a42b38) |
| Streaming plan | A 17-game seasonlong package including the final on a Saturday, offered to a global streaming service[1](https://apnews.com/article/0eec0f8154e8778a02bb886bb9a42b38) |
| Titleholder access | The 2026/27 winners gain a place in the 2027/28 league phase if they have not qualified via their domestic competition[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a6-20d57cfcd03e-407c22a7f465-1000--2026-27-champions-league-teams-dates-draws-format-final/) |
| Spanish rights | Telefónica holds exclusive rights to all UEFA competitions in Spain for the four seasons from 2027/2028 to 2030/2031 for 1,464 million euros[4](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/11/20/movistar-se-asegura-en-exclusiva-los-derechos-de-la-uefa-para-espana-entre-2027-y-2031-por-1464-millones-cadena-ser/) |
## Format
The 2027/28 edition will run under the format introduced in 2024/25, in which 36 clubs are ranked in a single league table and each plays eight matches against eight different opponents, two drawn from each of four seeding pots, half at home and half away.[5](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0268-12157d69ce2d-9f011c70f6fa-1000--how-clubs-qualify-for-europe/) The top eight finishers qualify directly for the round of 16, clubs finishing 9th to 24th enter two-legged knockout phase play-offs, and clubs finishing 25th or lower are eliminated with no access to the [UEFA Europa League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-europa-league).[5](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0268-12157d69ce2d-9f011c70f6fa-1000--how-clubs-qualify-for-europe/) The 2026/27 season is the third under this format, making 2027/28 the fourth.[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a6-20d57cfcd03e-407c22a7f465-1000--2026-27-champions-league-teams-dates-draws-format-final/)
## New titleholder opening fixture
**A standalone opener.** From the 2027/28 season the Champions League holders will play a standalone opening fixture at home, an innovation UEFA framed as part of a continuing effort to "keep innovating and bringing fresh ideas to the market in order to unlock new value for the competitions, the clubs, our partners and our fans".[3](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/champions-league-holders-fixture-2027-28-b2844642.html)
## Commercial arrangements
**The Relevent deal.** In October 2025, UEFA and the European Football Clubs group, the joint venture known as UC3, signed a six-year rights sales deal with the United States-based agency Relevent running through 2033, covering club competitions from the 2027-28 season. Relevent, co-founded by [Miami Dolphins](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-dolphins) owner Stephen Ross, is also selling billions of dollars of Champions League broadcast and sponsor rights for UEFA under this arrangement.[1](https://apnews.com/article/0eec0f8154e8778a02bb886bb9a42b38) • [6](https://apnews.com/article/b113566c2ab944819708f61f0f88bd90) The contracts are intended to drive annual revenue above 5 billion euros ($5.8 billion).[1](https://apnews.com/article/0eec0f8154e8778a02bb886bb9a42b38)
**Streaming.** As part of the new cycle, Relevent is seeking a global streaming service, with Netflix, Apple TV+ and [Amazon Prime](https://www.edgepedia.org/amazon-prime) named as possible buyers, to purchase a premium package or first choice of game each week the Champions League is played. The package is planned as a 17-game seasonlong deal including the final on a Saturday.[1](https://apnews.com/article/0eec0f8154e8778a02bb886bb9a42b38) Spanish reporting has also described a possible pay-per-view model under consideration for the new audiovisual rights sale from 2027-28.[7](https://as.com/futbol/champions/una-champions-de-pay-per-view-televisivo-f202603-n/)
**National deals.** In Spain, Telefónica secured exclusive rights to all [UEFA competitions](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-competitions), including the Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Youth League and Super Cup, for the cycle covering 2027/2028 to 2030/2031, at a reported value of 1,464 million euros.[4](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/11/20/movistar-se-asegura-en-exclusiva-los-derechos-de-la-uefa-para-espana-entre-2027-y-2031-por-1464-millones-cadena-ser/)
## Qualification and access
UEFA has published an initial access list for the 2027/28 season alongside the 2026/27 regulations.[8](https://mail.kassiesa.net/uefa/) Provided they have not secured entry via their domestic league, the 2026/27 Champions League champions earn a spot in the 2027/28 league phase; in August 2027, they will also meet the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League holders in the [UEFA Super Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-super-cup).[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a6-20d57cfcd03e-407c22a7f465-1000--2026-27-champions-league-teams-dates-draws-format-final/) Russian clubs remain suspended from participation in UEFA competitions until further notice.[9](https://kassiesa.net/uefa/AccessList2026.html)
## References
1. [Champions League to feature opening game for titleholder and streaming deal from 2027, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/0eec0f8154e8778a02bb886bb9a42b38)
2. [2026/27 Champions League: Teams, dates, draws, format, final, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a6-20d57cfcd03e-407c22a7f465-1000--2026-27-champions-league-teams-dates-draws-format-final/)
3. [Champions League holders to host standalone opening fixture from 2027/28 season, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/champions-league-holders-fixture-2027-28-b2844642.html)
4. [Movistar+ se asegura en exclusiva los derechos de las competiciones UEFA para España entre 2027 y 2031 por 1.464 millones, Cadena SER](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/11/20/movistar-se-asegura-en-exclusiva-los-derechos-de-la-uefa-para-espana-entre-2027-y-2031-por-1464-millones-cadena-ser/)
5. [New format for Champions League post-2024: Everything you need to know, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0268-12157d69ce2d-9f011c70f6fa-1000--how-clubs-qualify-for-europe/)
6. [European soccer body UEFA ties financial future to US agency Relevent in 2nd rights sales deal, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/b113566c2ab944819708f61f0f88bd90)
7. [Una Champions de 'Pay per View' televisivo, AS](https://as.com/futbol/champions/una-champions-de-pay-per-view-televisivo-f202603-n/)
8. [UEFA European Cup Football, kassiesa.net](https://mail.kassiesa.net/uefa/)
9. [Access List 2026/27, kassiesa.net](https://kassiesa.net/uefa/AccessList2026.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Seasons and editions › National team seasons and results archives*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license