As part of a seemingly never ending Champions League schedule, the start of 2023/24 qualification began just 17 days after the 2022/23 final.
The 2023 final in Istanbul crowned a new European champion on June 10 as Manchester City beat Inter Milan, but the battle to secure a spot in next season’s competition started almost immediately at the preliminary qualifier round stage.
Far from the glamour of a Wembley final in 2024, the UEFA co-efficient machine whirred back into action at the start of June, with five rounds of qualifiers to get through before the group stages.
The superpowers of European football will be confident of securing a place in the groups with the lesser lights facing a complex route to the final 32.
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Champions League qualification 2023/24
The 2023/24 Champions League will be the final campaign before UEFA’s impending changes which increases the number of group stage teams from 32 to 36, amongst a host of other alterations.
There will be slight increase in the number of member association domestic champions competing at the start of 2023/24, rising from 29 to 31, with an ongoing ban still in place for Russian teams.
The Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Serie A from Italy and the German Bundesliga will all once again receive four automatic league spots in the group stages, with France and Portugal’s domestic league allocated three each.
Below is the breakdown of each qualification round for the 2023/24 Champions League:
Preliminary Qualifying Round
- Draw Date: June 13, 2023
- Round Date: June 27-30, 2023
This round included four domestic champions from the lowest ranked applicable UEFA co-efficient members, with the 2023/24 entrants being (Breidablik), San Marino (Tre Penne), Andorra (Atletic Club d’Escaldes) and Montenegro (Fudbalski Podgorica), with Breidablik progressing to the next stage.
First Qualifying Round
- Draw Date: June 20, 2023
- Round Date: July 11-19, 2023
Breidablik joined 29 other teams at the First Qualifying Round stage, including domestic champions from Turkey, Cyprus and Sweden.
| Match | First Leg Result | Second Leg Result | Aggregate Score |
| BK Haken (SWE) vs The New Saints (WAL) | BK Haken 3 The New Saints 1 | The New Saints 0 BK Hacken 2 | BK Haken 5 The New Saints 1 |
| Ballkani (KOS) vs Ludogorets Razgrad (HUN) | Ballkani 2 Ludogorets Razgrad 0 | Ludogorets Razgrad 4 Ballkani 0 | Ludogorets Razgrad 4 Ballkani 2 |
| Shamrock Rovers (IRE) vs Breidablik (ICE) | Shamrock Rovers 0 Breidablik 1 | Breidablik 2 Shamrock Rovers 1 | Shamrock Rovers 1 Breidablik 3 |
| Zalgiris (LIT) vs Struga (NMAC) | Zalgiris 0 Struga 0 | Struga 1 Zalgiris 2 | Zalgiris 2 Struga 1 |
| KI (FI) vs Ferencvaros (HUN) | KI 0 Ferencvaros 0 | Ferencvaros 0 KI 3 | KI 3 Ferencvaros 0 |
| Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) vs Valmeira (LAT) | Olimpija Ljubljana 2 Valmeira 1 | Valmeira 1 Olimpija Ljubljana 2 | Olimpija Ljubljana 4 Valmeira 2 |
| HJK (FIN) vs Larne (NIR) | HJK 1 Larne 0 | Larne 2 HJK 2 (AET) | HJK 3 Larne 2 |
| Lincoln Red Imps (GIB) vs Qarabag (AZE) | Lincoln Red Imps 1 Qarabag 2 | Qarabag 4 Lincoln Red Imps 0 | Lincoln Red Imps 1 Qarabag 6 |
| Rakow Czestochowa (POL) vs Flora (EST) | Rakow Czestochowa 1 Flora 0 | Flora 0 Rakow Czestochowa 3 | Rakow Czestochowa 4 Flora 0 |
| Slovan Bratislava (SLO) vs Swift Hesperange (LUX) | Slovan Bratislava 1 Swift Hesperange 1 | Swift Hesperange 0 Slovan Bratislava 2 | Slovan Bratislava 3 Swift Hesperange 1 |
| Farul Constanța (ROM) vs Sheriff Tiraspol (MOL) | Farul Constanța 1 Sheriff Tiraspol 0 | Sheriff Tiraspol 3 Farul Constanța 0 | Farul Constanța 1 Sheriff Tiraspol 3 |
| Hamrun Spartans (MAL) vs Maccabi Haifa (ISR) | Hamrun Spartans 0 Maccabi Haifa 4 | Maccabi Haifa 2 Hamrun Spartans 1 | Hamrun Spartans 1 Maccabi Haifa 6 |
| Uratu (ARM) vs Zrinjski Mostar (BOS) | Uratu 0 Zrinjski Mostar 1 | Zrinjski Mostar 2 Uratu 3 (Zrinjski won 4-3 on pens) | Urata 3 Zrinjski Mostar 3 (Zrinjski progress) |
| Partizani (ALB) vs BATE Borisov (BEL) | Partizani 1 BATE Borisov 1 | BATE Borisov 2 Partizani 0 | Partizani 1 BATE Borisov 3 |
| Astana (KAZ) vs Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) | Astana 1 Dinamo Tbilisi 1 | Dinamo Tbilisi 1 Astana 2 | Astana 3 Dinamo Tblisi 2 |
Second Qualifying Round
- Draw Date: June 21, 2023
- Round Date: July 25-Aug 2, 2023
The qualification pictures begin to change from this stage with the introduction of Champions Paths and League Paths, which places teams on different routes based on how they qualified via domestic leagues/cups.
| Fixture | First Leg | Second Leg | Final Result |
| Zalgiris (LIT) vs Galatasaray (TUR) | Zalgiris 2 Galatasaray 2 | Aug 2 | |
| Ludogorets Razgard (BUL) vs Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) | Ludogorets 1-1 Olimpija | Aug 1/2 | |
| Rakow Czestochowa (CZE) vs Qarabag (AZE) | Rakow Czestochowa 3-2 Qarabag | Aug 1/2 | |
| KI (FI) vs BK Hacken (SWE) | KI 0-0 BK Hacken | Aug 2 | |
| HJK (FIN) vs Molde (NOR) | HJK 1 Molde 0 | Aug 2 | |
| Breiðablik (ICE) vs FC Copenhagen (DEN) | Breiðablik 0 FC Copenhagen 2 | Aug 2 | |
| Sheriff Tiraspol (MOL) vs Maccabi Haifa (ISR) | Sheriff 1-0 Maccabi Haifa | Aug 2 | |
| Aris Limassol (CYP) vs BATE Borisov (BEL) | Aris Limassol 6-2 BATE Borisov | Aug 1 | |
| Zrinjski Mostar (BOS) vs Slovan Bratislava (SLO) | Zrinjski Mostar 0 Slovan Bratislava 1 | Aug 1/2 | |
| Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) vs Astana (KAZ) | Dinamo Zagreb 4 Astana 0 | Aug 1/2 | |
| Dnipro (UKR) vs Panathinaikos (GRE) | Dnipro 1 Panathinaikos 3 | Aug 1 | |
| Servette (SWI) vs Genk (BEL) | Servette 1 Genk 1 | Aug 2 |
Third Qualifying Round
- Draw Date: July 24, 2023
- Round Date: Aug 8-15, 2023
This stage continues to follow the Champions Paths and League Paths format, with the winners of the Swiss and Greek league entering the competition, alongside the runner up in the Scottish Premiership
| Fixture | First Leg | Second Leg | Final Result |
| Rakow Częstochowa (CZE) / Qarabag (AZE) vs. Aris Limassol (CYP) / BATE Borisov (BEL) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| Zrinjski Mostar (BOS) / Slovan Bratislava (SLO) vs. FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) / Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| AEK Athens FC (GRE) vs. GNK Dinamo (CRO) / FC Astana (KAZ) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| Ludogorets Razgard (BUL) / Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) vs. Zalgiris Vilnius (LIT) / Galatasaray (TUR) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| Breiðablik (ICE) / FC Copenhagen (DEN) vs. Sparta Prague (CZE) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| KI (FI) / BK Hacken (SWE) vs. HJK (FIN) / Molde (NOR) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| Sporting Braga (POR) vs. FK TSC (SER) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| Rangers (SCO) vs. Servette (SWI) / Genk (BEL) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| Dnipro-1 (UKR) / Panathinaikos (GRE) vs. Marseille (FRA) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| PSV Eindhoven (NED) vs. Sturm Graz (AUS) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 |
Playoff Round
- Draw Date: Aug 7, 2023
- Round Date: Aug 22-30, 2023
The playoff stage is the final hurdle before the group stages and the level of competition steps up with the champions of Ukraine and Belgium among those who enter the fray.
Teams qualified as of July 20, 2023:
- Young Boys
- Antwerp
Group Stages
- Draw Date: Aug 31, 2023
- Round Start: Sep 19, 2023
A total of 26 teams will automatically qualify for the group stages, including four each from England, Spain, Germany and Italy, with the final six spots confirmed after the playoffs are completed. At the moment, they are:
- England: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle United
- Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad, Sevilla
- Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Union Berlin
- Italy: Napoli, Lazio, FC Inter, AC Milan
- France: Paris Saint-Germain, Lens
- Scotland: Celtic
- Portugal: Benfica, Porto
- Netherlands: Feyenoord
- Serbia: Red Star Belgrade
- Austria: RB Salzburg
- Ukraine: Shakhtar Donetsk
How to watch Champions League around the world
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | — | Stan Sport |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| Hong Kong | beIN Sports | beIN Sports Connect |
| India | Sony TEN | JioTV, Sony LIV |
| Malaysia | beIN Sports | beIN Sports Connect, sooka |
| New Zealand | — | Spark Sport |
| Singapore | beIN Sports | beIN Sports Connect, StarHub TV+ |
| UK | BT Sport | BT Sport site/app |
| USA | CBS, CBSSN, Univision, TUDN, UniMas |
Fubo, Paramount+, ViX or ViX+ |
UK: Matches are broadcast on BT Sport and streamed on BT Sport’s site and app platforms.
USA: Matches are available to stream on Paramount+ (English) and ViX (Spanish) for subscribers, and when matches are televised on CBS or Univision channels, those are also streamed on Fubo.
Canada: Every Champions League game streams live on DAZN.
Australia: Every match from the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League streams on Stan Sportad-free, live and on demand.