The turnaround between Champions League seasons is tighter than ever as 2022/23 switches into 2023/24.
After the 2022/23 final wrapped up on June 10, the draw for the preliminary qualifying rounds for 2023/24 was completed just three days later.
The group stages will not start until mid-September, but for teams fighting through the qualification minefield, it will be a busy summer.
The Sporting News has all the key details on how the 2023/24 Champions League will work.
MORE: Champions League qualification rules 2024: UEFA changes to coefficient formula and group stages
UEFA Champions League schedule 2023-24
- Qualifying rounds: June 27-Aug 15, 2023
- Playoffs: Aug 22-30, 2022
- Group stage: Sept 19-Dec 13, 2023
- Round of 16: Feb 13-March 13, 2024
- Quarterfinals: April 9-17, 2024
- Semifinals: April 30-May 8, 2024
- Final: June 1, 2024
The path to the UEFA Champions League group stages will begin for some sides as early as June 27 as four teams play out a one-legged semi-finals and final.
After that, three further rounds of two-leg, aggregate-goal qualifiers will be held in July and August, before the group stage starts in September.
The 2022/23 Champions League was amended to fit in the 2022 World Cup, but the 2023/24 tournament will follow a more traditional format, with group stage matches stretching into December
There will then be a standard three-month break before the knockout stages begin in mid-February.
The 2023/24 Champions League final will be held on June 1, at Wembley Stadium, as a slightly earlier clash due to the incoming Euro 2024 tournament.
Champions League qualification 2023/24
The 2023/24 Champions League will be the final campaign before UEFA increases the number of group stage teams from 32 to 36.
The Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Serie A in Italy and the German Bundesliga will all receive four automatic places in the group stages, with Spain given an extra spot due to Sevilla’s Europa League title win.
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 involved four domestic champions from the lowest ranked applicable UEFA co-efficient members, with 2023/24’s entrants Iceland (Breidablik), San Marino (Tre Penne), Andorra (Atletic Club d’Escaldes) and Montenegro (Fudbalski Podgorica), with Breidablik progressing to the next round.
First Qualifying Round
- Draw Date: June 20, 2023
- Round Date: July 11-19, 2023
Breidablik joined 29 other teams from across Europe at the First Qualifying Round, 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 (UKR) / Panathinaikos (GRE) vs. Marseille (FRA) | Aug 8/9 | Aug 15 | |
| PSV Eindhoven (NET) 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 involves the level of competition stepping up with the champions of Ukraine and Belgium amongst those who will enter the fray.
*Teams qualified as of July 19, 2023
- Young Boys
- Antwerp
Group Stages
- Draw Date: Aug 31, 2023
- Round Start: Sep 19, 2023
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.
- 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 Sport ad-free, live and on demand.