The Purest Form of Champions League

The 2026 Champions League has officially begun, marking the start of what many consider the purest form of this prestigious football competition. Just 38 days after Paris St-Germain's victory over Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena, the new campaign is underway with a distinctly different vibe.

The First Qualifying Round

The first qualifying round started on Tuesday at 16:00 BST in Kuopio, Finland, featuring 28 teams, all of whom are champions of their respective countries. Unlike the later stages, there's no Champions League anthem before games, and clubs use their own balls. Yet, it's still the Champions League, with teams like Virtus from San Marino, who are eight games away from the league phase.

The Long Road to Budapest

The journey to the 2026 final in Budapest is a long one, spanning 326 days. It's likely that most teams starting this week will be mere footnotes by then. However, the competition is fierce, and every team dreams of making history.

Could Someone Go All the Way?

Only 10 teams have managed to go from the first round of Champions League qualifying to the group or league phase. Slovan Bratislava achieved this last year, earning over £15m despite losing all eight league games. If a team goes all the way to the final, they could end up playing 25 Champions League games.

The 552nd Best Team

Virtus, champions of San Marino, are the lowest-ranked team in the draw, ranked 552nd by UEFA's 10-year club coefficients. Despite their low ranking, they see it as a privilege to be involved and are confident of competing well in the Conference League third qualifying round.

The New Boys

Armenian side FC Noah are the only Champions League debutants in the first round of qualifying. They had a remarkable journey last season, reaching the league phase of the Conference League. This year, they aim to make their mark in the Champions League.

The Regulars

Bulgarian champions Ludogorets are in the first round of qualifying for the eighth consecutive year. They have a rich history in the competition, having reached the group stages twice.

The Derbies

There are two derbies between teams from neighbouring countries in the first qualifying round: Dublin side Shelbourne and Belfast club Linfield, and Levadia Tallinn of Estonia and Latvian side RFS.

British Teams in Action

Perennial Welsh champions TNS face Shkendija of North Macedonia, while Lincoln Red Imps, champions of Gibraltar, take on Faroese side Vikingur. Rangers and Celtic also enter the competition at later stages.

What Next for the Losers?

Teams who lose in the first round are not out of Europe entirely; they drop into the Conference League qualifiers, offering another chance to compete on the European stage.