Three things to look out for in Champions League qualifying

The 2026/27 Champions League qualifying campaign begins Tuesday, with 52 clubs battling for the final seven places in the league phase. A wave of debutants adds intrigue, including Sabah Baku, ML Vitebsk, Atert Bissen, Kauno Žalgiris and Sweden’s Mjällby, all entering the competition for the first time. NEC also make their maiden UCL appearance, while historic names such as AGF Aarhus, Górnik Zabrze and Universitatea Craiova return after decades away.

The Champions Path looks unusually open, with regular contenders like Ferencváros, Qarabağ, Ludogorets, Copenhagen and Young Boys absent. That increases the likelihood of a new club reaching the league phase, though established sides such as Celtic, Crvena zvezda, Dinamo Zagreb and Slovan Bratislava remain strong favourites.

The League Path promises volatility, featuring underdogs NEC, Hearts and Górnik alongside ambitious returnees Lyon and Fenerbahçe. With only two spots available, drama is almost guaranteed across July and August.