The final matchday of the newly structured UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase takes place on December 17, with all nine matches kicking off at 3 PM ET (8 PM GMT).
Since early October, all 18 teams have been vying for advancement, and we can now identify roughly which 12 teams will qualify for the knockout stage—either automatically or through a playoff system.
The draw for the knockout stage, outlining the full bracket, is scheduled for Thursday, December 18. Notably, there is no country protection, so clubs from the same league may face each other in the knockout rounds.
Here’s everything you need to know.
How is qualification determined?
The top four teams in the league table automatically advance to the two-legged quarterfinals, scheduled for March 24 and April 1.
Teams ranked 5 to 12 enter the knockout-phase playoffs, with matches set for February 11-12 and February 18-19, to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Positions 13 to 18 in the standings indicate elimination from the tournament.
The competition adopts a two-legged format from the playoffs up to the semifinals, culminating in a one-legged final.
How does the league phase tie into the knockout bracket?
The new structure emphasizes league performance and pairings. The higher a team finishes, the more advantageous their path becomes, including direct progression to the quarterfinals for the top four teams.
For the knockout-phase playoffs, the draw will generate four matchups from:
11 or 12 vs. 5 or 6 (two matchups)
9 or 10 vs. 7 or 8 (two matchups)
The draw will then assign these matchups into either the silver or blue half of the bracket.
The paired teams in positions 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 will subsequently be drawn into one of two possible positions to finalize the fixtures.
For the quarterfinals, the draw will be:
The winners of matchups involving 7, 8, 9, and 10 will face 1 or 2 (two matches)
The winners of matchups including 5, 6, 11, and 12 will match up with 3 or 4 (two matches)
The entire bracket will then be established.
The teams finishing in the top four will host the second leg of the quarterfinals.
The semifinal pairings will be predetermined by the bracket draw. Ideally, the teams ranked 1 and 2 will host the semifinal second leg. However, if either is eliminated in the quarterfinals, the home advantage goes to the team that defeated them. For example, if Arsenal (first) are eliminated by Paris FC (ninth), then Paris FC will host the semifinal.
This structure means that third and fourth-place teams cannot secure a home semifinal second leg since they cannot acquire it from teams ranked first or second.
Which teams have qualified already?
Barcelona and OL Lyonnes have both secured 13 points, guaranteeing them a spot in the top four.
Chelsea, Juventus, Real Madrid, Wolfsburg, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Paris FC have all confirmed their positions in the knockout-phase playoffs.
Atlético Madrid is essentially through as well, with Valerenga capable of tying on points but possessing a significantly inferior goal difference and needing a 10-0 victory.
OH Leuven is positioned as the likely candidate for the final 12th spot, unless they lose or draw against Arsenal, while Valerenga needs to beat Bayern.
Which teams have been eliminated?
St. Pölten sit at the bottom and are out of contention, along with FC Twente, Benfica, Roma, and Paris Saint-Germain (who lost their first four matches) as they can no longer surpass OH Leuven in 12th place.
What’s on the line in the last league-phase matches?
VfL Wolfsburg vs. Chelsea: Wolfsburg can break into the top four with a win contingent on results from Real Madrid and Juventus. Chelsea can secure a top-four position with a victory, but a draw may see them overtaken by Juventus, Real Madrid, or Bayern.
OH Leuven vs. Arsenal: Leuven should maintain the 12th position even with a loss, unless Valerenga beats Bayern, which would mean a draw wouldn’t suffice due to goal difference. Arsenal, aiming for a top-four finish, require favorable outcomes in other matches given their standing below Chelsea, Juventus, Real Madrid, Bayern, and Wolfsburg.
Bayern Munich vs. Valerenga: To reach the top four, Bayern must secure a better result than Juventus or Real Madrid due to their inferior goal difference. Valerenga faces a daunting challenge to claim the final playoff spot, needing a win while hoping Arsenal does not lose to Leuven.
FC Twente vs. Real Madrid: Madrid aims to score as many goals as possible against the already eliminated Twente, as they vie for fourth place with Juventus. A decisive victory guarantees them an automatic spot.
Juventus vs. Manchester United: Currently fourth and barely ahead of Madrid on goals scored, Juventus requires a victory. A draw likely pushes them into the playoffs. United could enter the top tier of the playoffs with a win or even with a draw if Wolfsburg loses to Chelsea.
OL Lyonnes vs. Atlético Madrid: Atlético needs a win to secure the highest possible seed for the playoffs. With a superior goal difference (+8) than nearby teams, only a win helps them, though OL Lyonnes, already qualified, aim to finish on top—currently trailing Barcelona by six goals.
Paris FC vs. Barcelona: Like Atlético, Paris FC needs a victory to achieve spots 5-8; their goal difference worsens with a draw. Barcelona already qualified but also wants to secure the top position.
Roma vs. St. Pölten: This match has no implications as both teams are eliminated.
Benfica vs. Paris Saint-Germain: This match also carries no weight, with both sides eliminated.
When are the knockout games scheduled?
Playoffs:
Leg 1: February 11-12
Leg 2: February 18-19
Quarterfinals:
Leg 1: March 23-25
Leg 2: March 31-April 2
Semifinals:
Leg 1: April 24-26
Leg 2: May 1-3
Final:
May 22-23 at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway.