The Champions League 2026-27 season has begun. For the 52 clubs entering the qualifying rounds, this week marked the start of a journey that could end with a place among Europe's elite. The first qualifying round delivered 26 matches across two legs, featuring champions from 28 different associations. Some won comfortably. Others survived by the skin of their teeth. And a few underdogs already have Europe's giants on alert.
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First Round Overview: Results and Standings
The first qualifying round featured 26 ties played over two legs on 2-3 July and 9-10 July. The format is simple: aggregate goals decide who advances. Away goals count double if the aggregate is tied after two legs. If still level, 30 minutes of extra time and penalties decide the winner.
This year's first round included champions from associations ranked 28th to 53rd in the UEFA coefficient rankings. The lowest-ranked club was Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps, who entered as champions of a league ranked 53rd. They drew Maltese champions Hibernians and managed a credible 1-1 draw at home before losing 2-0 in Malta.
The aggregate results showed the expected gap between established European clubs and champions from smaller leagues. Six ties were settled by at least four goals. The biggest aggregate win came from Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, who beat Andorran side FC Santa Coloma 7-0 on aggregate. Celtic's 4-1 win over Pyunik was comfortable but not spectacular, while Dynamo Kiev needed extra time to see off Zimbru Chisinau.
Celtic's Run: 4-1 Aggregate Win Over Pyunik
Celtic entered the first qualifying round as Scottish champions and faced Armenian side FC Pyunik. The Glasgow club had reason to be cautious. Pyunik had knocked out Luxembourg's Progres Niederkorn in the previous round and possessed a squad of experienced Armenian internationals. The first leg in Yerevan ended 2-1 to Celtic, with goals from Oh Hyeon-gyu and Daizen Maeda either side of a Pyunik equalizer.
The return leg at Celtic Park was more emphatic. Celtic dominated possession and chances, eventually running out 2-0 winners with goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and Matt O'Riley. The 4-1 aggregate scoreline flattered Pyunik, who spent much of the tie defending their box. Celtic created 32 shots across the two legs and could easily have won by a bigger margin.
Manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased with the performance but warned against complacency. "We've done what we needed to do," Rodgers said afterwards. "The job's not finished. We know the second round will be tougher. We'll find out our opponents soon and we'll prepare properly."
Celtic's reward is a place in the second qualifying round, where they will face the winner of the tie between Luxembourg's F91 Dudelange and Welsh champions The New Saints. That tie was finely poised after the first leg, with F91 Dudelange winning 1-0 in Luxembourg. Celtic will be heavy favorites regardless of which opponent emerges.
Dynamo Kiev Survive Moldovan Test
Dynamo Kiev's qualifying campaign began with a scare against Moldovan champions Zimbru Chisinau. The Ukrainian giants, who won their domestic title for the 17th time last season, were expected to dispatch Zimbru comfortably. The first leg in Chisinau ended 1-1, with Dynamo conceding a late equalizer that left the tie in the balance.
The second leg in Kiev was tense. Zimbru defended resolutely and even had chances to score on the counter-attack. With the score 0-0 after 90 minutes and the aggregate level at 1-1, the match went to extra time. Dynamo finally broke through in the 98th minute through midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko, who curled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. A second goal from Viktor Tsyhankov in the 112th minute sealed a 2-0 win on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.
The relief was visible around the stadium. Dynamo have missed out on the Champions League group stage in each of the past three seasons and were desperate to avoid another early exit. Manager Oleksandr Shovkovskyi admitted his side were fortunate to progress. "We created enough chances but couldn't score," he said. "We have to be better in the next round."
Dynamo's next opponent will be the winner of the tie between Luxembourg's Swift Hesperange and Latvian champions RFS. That first leg ended 1-1 in Riga, setting up an intriguing second leg in Luxembourg. Dynamo will expect to win that tie but will know they cannot afford another sluggish performance.
Bodo/Glimt Progress in Comfortable Fashion
Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt have become familiar faces in Champions League qualifying in recent years. They reached the group stage in 2024 and 2025 and started this season's campaign with a 5-0 aggregate win over Andorran side UE Sant Julia. The first leg in Andorra ended 4-0, with Bodo/Glimt scoring three times in the first half to kill the tie early.
The return leg in Bodo was a formality. Bodo/Glimt won 1-0 with a goal from midfielder Patrick Berg, making it 5-0 on aggregate. The Norwegian side created 27 shots across the two legs and could have won by an even bigger margin. Manager Kjetil Knutsen rotated his squad for the second leg, giving minutes to fringe players ahead of the league season starting next week.
Bodo/Glimt's achievement in recent years has been remarkable. A club from a town of 50,000 people in northern Norway has established itself as a regular in European competition. They won the Norwegian Eliteserien by 15 points last season and have started the new season with three straight wins. Their attacking football and high press have made them a difficult opponent for bigger clubs.
In the second qualifying round, Bodo/Glimt will face the winner of the tie between Kazakh champions Kairat and Lithuanian champions Zalgiris Vilnius. That first leg ended 2-1 to Kairat in Almaty, setting up a tight second leg in Vilnius. Bodo/Glimt will be favorites but cannot underestimate either opponent.
Biggest Upsets of the First Round
The first qualifying round produced few genuine shocks but several close shaves for the favorites. The most dramatic tie was between Luxembourg's F91 Dudelange and Welsh champions The New Saints. The first leg in Luxembourg ended 1-0 to Dudelange, but TNS created the better chances and were unfortunate not to score. The second leg in Oswestry is finely poised at 1-1 after 90 minutes, with the tie going to extra time.
Another tie that went to the wire was between Kazakh champions Kairat and Lithuanian champions Zalgiris Vilnius. The first leg in Almaty saw Kairat win 2-1 with a late goal, but Zalgiris had chances to equalize and even take a lead to Lithuania. The second leg in Vilnius is set to be a tense affair, with both clubs knowing a single goal could decide the tie.
The biggest aggregate win came from Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, who beat Andorran side FC Santa Coloma 7-0 on aggregate. The first leg in Budapest ended 5-0, with Ferencvaros scoring three times in the first 20 minutes. The second leg in Andorra was a 2-0 win, with Ferencvaros once again scoring early to kill any hope of a comeback.
There were no eliminations of major clubs, which is typical for the first qualifying round. The lowest-ranked club to progress was Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps, who beat Maltese champions Hibernians 3-2 on aggregate after losing the first leg 1-0 in Malta. Lincoln Red Imps won the second leg 3-1 at the Victoria Stadium, with a late winner from Roy Chipolina securing a famous victory.
Second Round Draw: Matchups to Watch
The second qualifying round draw has been made, with the 13 first-round winners joined by champions from associations ranked 16th to 27th. These include Romanian champions FCSB, Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad, and Slovak champions Slovan Bratislava. The round features 20 ties, with the winners advancing to the third qualifying round.
One of the most intriguing matchups is between F91 Dudelange or The New Saints and Celtic. The winner of that tie will face Celtic in the second round, with the Glasgow club heavy favorites to progress. However, TNS have reached the Champions League qualifying rounds in each of the past three seasons and could make life difficult for Celtic if they come through their tie against Dudelange.
Another tie to watch is between Dynamo Kiev and the winner of Swift Hesperange versus RFS. Dynamo Kiev will be heavy favorites regardless of their opponent, but their first-round performance against Zimbru showed they cannot be taken lightly. Swift Hesperange have surprised many by reaching the second round and could push Dynamo Kiev if they reach the tie.
Bodo/Glimt's second-round tie against Kairat or Zalgiris Vilnius should be straightforward on paper, but the Norwegian side will need to be at their best to avoid any upsets. Kairat have European experience and reached the Europa League group stage last season, while Zalgiris have a strong home record at the LFF Stadium.
Teams to Watch in Qualifying
Several clubs have emerged as potential dark horses to reach the Champions League group stage this season. Bodo/Glimt have proven they can compete at the highest level and will be dangerous opponents for any club they face. Their attacking style and high press can unsettle even the best teams, and their experience from previous qualifying campaigns will be invaluable.
Romanian champions FCSB enter in the second qualifying round and have been impressive in their domestic league. They won the Romanian Liga I by 12 points last season and have a squad with European experience, including former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi. FCSB reached the Europa League group stage last season and will be confident of reaching the Champions League group stage this time around.
Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad have been regulars in Champions League qualifying in recent years. They have reached the group stage twice in the past five seasons and have a squad that combines experienced Bulgarian internationals with foreign talent. Their first-round opponent will be determined by the second-round draw, but they will be confident of progressing regardless of who they face.
Slovak champions Slovan Bratislava are another club to watch. They won the Slovak Fortuna Liga by 15 points last season and have a strong home record at the Tehelne Pole Stadium. Slovan have European experience and have reached the Europa League group stage in two of the past three seasons. They could be a tough opponent for any club in the qualifying rounds.
Who Will Reach the Group Stage?
Based on the first round results and the quality of the squads involved, several clubs look well-placed to reach the Champions League group stage. Celtic are the highest-ranked club in the qualifying path and should have too much quality for their second-round opponent. Their squad is significantly stronger than any of the clubs they could face in the second and third rounds.
Dynamo Kiev have a difficult path but have the quality to reach the group stage. Their first-round performance against Zimbru was concerning, but they have a squad with Champions League experience and will be motivated to return to Europe's top competition. Their second-round tie against Swift Hesperange or RFS should be straightforward, but they could face tougher tests in later rounds.
Bodo/Glimt have shown they can compete at the highest level and will be dangerous opponents for any club they face. Their attacking style and high press can unsettle even the best teams, and their experience from previous qualifying campaigns will be invaluable. They reached the group stage in each of the past two seasons and will be confident of doing so again.
Other clubs with a good chance of reaching the group stage include FCSB, Ludogorets Razgrad and Slovan Bratislava. All three have squads with European experience and have performed well in their domestic leagues. They will face tough tests in the qualifying rounds, but they have the quality to progress if they perform at their best.
The Champions League 2026-27 qualifying rounds have begun with drama, goals and upsets. The first round has set the stage for an exciting journey to the group stage, with several clubs already showing they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. The second round promises more of the same, with several intriguing matchups already confirmed.
Follow every Champions League qualifier and upcoming group stage fixture with iScore.ai, where live scores meet real-time match data.