The road to the 2026-27 UEFA Women's Champions League league phase continues this week as the second qualifying round begins, with 44 clubs battling across Europe for a place in the next stage.
Former champions Eintracht Frankfurt headline the teams entering at this stage, alongside established European sides including Ajax, Juventus and Slavia Prague.
The qualifying round is being played between 4 and 8 August through a series of knockout mini-tournaments split into the Champions Path and League Path.
Which Teams Enter The Second Qualifying Round?
Thirty-nine clubs enter directly into the second qualifying round, joined by five teams that progressed from the opening stage.
Among the favourites are four-time champions Eintracht Frankfurt, while Ajax and Juventus will also be aiming to book their place in the third qualifying round.
Each mini-tournament consists of two semi-finals, followed by a third-place play-off and a final. Only the winners of each tournament will progress.
What's At Stake?
The 11 mini-tournament winners will advance to the third qualifying round, where they will be joined by seven clubs entering the competition at that stage.
Nine two-legged ties will then determine the final teams to reach the revamped Women's Champions League league phase, where nine clubs have already qualified automatically.
Teams that fail to progress are not necessarily out of Europe altogether. Runners-up and third-placed finishers in each mini-tournament will instead move into the newly introduced UEFA Women's Europa Cup, giving clubs another opportunity to compete on the continental stage.
Read More: Women’s Champions League Qualification Explained: How Teams Reach The UWCL League Phase
Key Fixtures To Watch
Some of the standout ties this week include:
- Ajax vs Brøndby
- Juventus vs Torreense
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs Omonia
- Sporting CP vs SeaSters Odesa
- Hammarby vs Apolonia
In the Champions Path, clubs including PSV Eindhoven, Hearts, Fenerbahçe and Servette begin their qualification campaigns, while Dinamo-BSUPC became the first side eliminated after losing 3-0 to Servette on Tuesday.
Which Clubs Are Making Their Women's Champions League Debut?
This year's qualifying rounds also feature several clubs making their UEFA Women's Champions League debuts.
Apolonia, Fenerbahçe, Hearts, Malmö, Omonia, SeaSters Odesa, Torreense and TSC Bačka Topola are all appearing in the competition for the first time.
At the other end of the experience scale, Bosnia and Herzegovina's SFK 2000 Sarajevo are entering the competition for a record 24th consecutive season, while Gintra and Sparta Praha are making their 23rd European campaigns.
With league phase places on the line and the new UEFA Women's Europa Cup offering a second route into European football, every match this week carries significant importance as clubs chase their continental ambitions.
