2026/27: Everything you need to know about European competitions

With the formats introduced by UEFA across its three club competitions at the beginning of the 2024/25 season, France and Ligue 1 McDonald’s will once again have seven European places in 2026/27. Here is everything you need to know.

How are the seven places distributed?

Last season, six European places were awarded through the league, with an additional place reserved for the winners of the Coupe de France. The competition was won by RC Lens, who had already qualified for Europe through their league position, meaning that the top seven teams in Ligue 1 McDonald’s secured a place in continental competition.

Three plus one in the Champions League

Under the new Champions League format, the French top flight, ranked fifth in the UEFA coefficient, has gone from having two automatic places plus one qualifying place to three automatic places plus one qualifying place.

The top three sides — Paris Saint-Germain, RC Lens and LOSC Lille — have therefore qualified directly for the league phase of the Champions League.

Fourth-placed Olympique Lyonnais can also reach the league phase, but Les Gones must first come through the third qualifying round, with the first leg scheduled for 4 or 5 August, followed by the play-offs. Should they be eliminated, Lyon will drop into the Europa League league phase.

Through the league standings, fifth-placed Olympique de Marseille qualified directly for the Europa League league phase. The other Europa League place, which would normally have gone to the Coupe de France winners, instead passes to sixth-placed Stade Rennais FC.

As was the case last season, that shift means the seventh-placed team in Ligue 1 McDonald’s, AS Monaco, can qualify for the UEFA Conference League through a two-legged play-off, scheduled for 20 and 27 August.

A reminder of the format — with one new feature

Since the 2024/25 season, the traditional 32-team group stage in the Champions League and Europa League has been replaced by a 36-team league phase.

Each team plays eight matches — four at home and four away — against eight different opponents.

The top eight teams in the final standings qualify directly for the round of 16. The sides finishing between ninth and 24th compete in two-legged knockout phase play-offs.

In both the play-offs and the round of 16, the team that finished higher in the league-phase standings hosts the second leg.

As was the case last season, the top four teams from the league phase will also host the second leg should they reach the quarter-finals, while the top two will host the return leg in the semi-finals.

The final will take place as usual as a single match at a neutral venue. In 2026/27, the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid will host the Champions League final.

The Europa League follows the same model, while the Conference League format differs slightly. Although 36 teams also take part in its league phase, each club plays only six matches.

The league-phase standings, knockout phase play-offs and elimination rounds then follow the same system as in the Champions League and Europa League.

Competition-by-competition guide

UEFA Champions League

Qualified: Paris Saint-Germain, RC Lens and LOSC Lille
Potential qualifier: Olympique Lyonnais

UEFA Europa League

Qualified: Olympique de Marseille and Stade Rennais FC
Potential qualifier: Olympique Lyonnais

UEFA Conference League

Potential qualifier: AS Monaco

Draw dates