The Copa del Rey has long been a stage where Spanish football’s most intense rivalries and dramatic narratives collide, and the 2026 edition promises to deliver another unforgettable chapter. When defending champions FC Barcelona lock horns with the ever-resilient Atletico Madrid, the matchup becomes more than just a battle for progression or silverware—it evolves into a clash of philosophies, identities, and legacies. Spanish football thrives on stylistic contrasts, and few fixtures represent that contrast as vividly as Barcelona’s possession-oriented, fluid attacking system against Atletico Madrid’s disciplined, tactically rigid, and fiercely competitive structure. As both sides prepare to face each other in what promises to be a pulsating encounter, fans, analysts, and neutrals alike anticipate a game filled with tactical intrigue, emotional intensity, and moments of brilliance that could define the tournament’s trajectory. Barcelona enter the 2026 Copa del Rey campaign carrying the...
The modifications represent a major shift for the women's game and mirror the format of the men's European tournaments, which were also redesigned at the beginning of the current season. The Europa Cup gives clubs all over the continent another chance to compete on the biggest stage, while the UEFA Women's Champions League, which was first known as the UEFA Women's Cup in the 2001–02 season, will take on a new format that intends to increase its competitiveness.
The updated format of each competition, the important changes fans should be aware of, and the dates that fans should put on their calendars for the 2025–2026 season are all examined in further detail in 90min.
Format of the Women's Champions League
The Champions League's group stage structure will be replaced by an 18-team league phase starting in the upcoming season, along with increased entrance. Instead of playing three opponents twice, teams will now play six different teams in a league, with half of the games being played at home and the other half away.Each team will be placed in three distinct seeding pots according to their most recent club coefficient ranking, and the six opponents will be decided by a draw. Every team will be selected to play one home and one away match against two opponents from each pot.
Instead of groups being set with many games remaining, as is presently the case, it is believed that this new format would boost the competition right up until the end of the round. The results of these matches will determine the ranking in the league phase. The teams ranked fifth through twelve will play a two-leg knockout play-off to secure their spot in the last eight, while the top four teams from the 18 will automatically advance to the quarterfinals.
Seeded teams will play the second leg at home if they automatically advance to the quarterfinals. The competition will thereafter proceed according to the current structure until the final.
The domestic champions of the six highest-ranked national associations, as well as the winners of the previous season, automatically qualify. Associations one and two's runners-up will also advance straight to the league stage, with the qualifying procedure deciding the remaining spots.
Along with the winners of Spain, England, Portugal, and Italy, the winners and runners-up of France and Germany will automatically advance to the league stage in 2025–2026.
Important dates for the Women's Champions League
Draw for the first and second qualifying rounds on June 16The first qualifying round (one-venue mini-tournaments) takes place from July 30 to August 2.
The second qualifying round (one-venue mini-tournaments) is scheduled for August 27–30.
Draw for the third qualifying round on September 1st
11 September: First leg of the third qualifying round
18 September: League phase, second leg, third qualifying round, knockout stages
Format for the Europa Cup
Thirteen teams—the third-place teams in the domestic league from associations ranked 8–13 and the runners-up of associations ranked 18–24—will directly compete in the recently established Europa Cup. The runners-up and third-place teams from the second qualifying round of the Champions League, as well as those ousted in the third qualifying round, will also have another opportunity in the Europa Cup.
The Europa Cup, which will take place concurrently with the Champions League, will be a direct knockout competition without a league phase or group round. The first and second qualifying rounds will be followed by a two-leg final at the end of the season, for a total of six rounds.
The winners of this competition will have only one round to contend for a spot in the league stage of the main event, as they will automatically advance to the third qualifying round of the champions path of the Women's Champions League the following season.
Important dates for the Europa Cup
Rounds of qualifying knockouts
The Europa Cup, which will take place concurrently with the Champions League, will be a direct knockout competition without a league phase or group round. The first and second qualifying rounds will be followed by a two-leg final at the end of the season, for a total of six rounds.
The winners of this competition will have only one round to contend for a spot in the league stage of the main event, as they will automatically advance to the third qualifying round of the champions path of the Women's Champions League the following season.
Important dates for the Europa Cup
Rounds of qualifying knockouts
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