The UEFA Champions League 2023-24 qualification phase commenced on June 27 and will run through August 30, 2023. The main tournament is set to kick off on September 19, 2023. This season, football giants such as Man City, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Manchester United are the prime contenders to claim the championship title.
Interestingly, some clubs will grace the grand stage after a significant hiatus. Arsenal FC, Newcastle United, RC Lens, and Union Berlin fall into this category. Notably, Union Berlin’s qualification marks their inaugural participation in the UEFA Champions League.
26 clubs have qualified for the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group stage directly after finishing their respective leagues at qualifying positions. While the remaining 6 teams will make it after the qualifying stage.
UEFA Champions League Qualified Teams (26 Directly)
England: Arsenal FC, Manchester City FC, Manchester United FC, Newcastle United FC
Spain: Atlético de Madrid, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, Real Sociedad, Sevilla FC
Germany: FC Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, FC Union Berlin
Italy: Inter Milan, Lazio, AC Milan, Napoli
France: RC Lens, Paris Saint-Germain
Portugal: Benfica, FC Porto
Netherlands: Feyenoord
Scotland: Celtic FC
Serbia: FK Crvena zvezda
Austria: FC Salzburg
Ukraine: FC Shakhtar Donetsk
UEFA Champions League 2023-24 Group Stage Draw Date
The UCL 2023-24 group stage draw is scheduled for August 31, 2023. All 32 teams will be divided into four pots of 8 teams each. Pot 1 includes defending champions Manchester City, Europa League victors Sevilla, and champions of the top 6 leagues.
During the group stage draw, organizers will pick one team from each pot and will create a balanced group of four teams. A total of 8 groups will be formed during the process.
Pot 1:
- Manchester City (Champions League)
- Sevilla (Europa League)
- Barcelona (La Liga)
- Napoli (Serie A)
- Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
- PSG (Ligue 1)
- Benfica (Primeira Liga)
- Feyenoord (Eredivisie)
Pot 2:
- Real Madrid (La Liga)
- Manchester United (Premier League)
- Inter Milan (Serie A)
- B. Dortmund (Bundesliga)
- Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
- RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
- Porto (Primeira Liga)
- Arsenal (Premier League)
Pot 3:
- Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukrainian PL)
- RB Salzburg (Austrian Bundesliga)
- AC Milan (Serie A)
- Lazio (Serie A)
- Red Star Belgrade (Serbian SL)
- TBC (To be Confirmed)
- TBC (To be Confirmed)
- TBC (To be Confirmed)
Pot 4:
- Union Berlin (Bundesliga)
- Lens (Ligue 1)
- TBC (To be Confirmed)
- TBC (To be Confirmed)
- TBC (To be Confirmed)
- TBC (To be Confirmed)
- TBC (To be Confirmed)
- TBC (To be Confirmed)