Arsenal’s women’s side has been paired with the reigning European champions, Barcelona, for the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League. This draw places the Gunners alongside a mix of established powerhouses and emerging clubs, setting up a demanding six‑match schedule that will run from late September through mid‑December. Arsenal, who reached the semi‑finals of the competition in the previous campaign, will travel to Barcelona for one of their fixtures and host the Catalan giants at the Emirates Stadium for the return leg.
In addition to the Spanish titans, the London club’s group also includes Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, Benfica, Paris FC, HB Køge and Inter Milan. The matches are slated for six distinct dates: September 22, October 6, October 20, November 3, November 17 and December 16, with each team playing three games at home and three away. Chelsea, another English heavyweight, has been drawn into a group featuring Paris Saint‑Germain, Olympique Lyonnais, AS Roma, BK Häcken, Austria Wien and OH Leuven. Their itinerary mirrors Arsenal’s in terms of the number of fixtures and the spread across the calendar, offering a blend of French, Italian, Swedish, Austrian and Belgian opposition.
The Blues will host PSG and Roma, while traveling to face Lyon, Häcken, Austria Wien and OH Leuven. Manchester City, the current champions of the Women’s Super League, return to the Champions League after a hiatus that saw them miss the 2024/25 edition. Their group is arguably the most star‑studded, comprising Paris Saint‑Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, BK Häcken, Austria Wien and Inter Milan. City will enjoy home advantage against PSG, Austria Wien and Real Madrid, and will travel to face Bayern, Häcken and Inter.
This lineup pits the English champions against some of the most storied clubs in men’s football that have recently invested heavily in their women’s programs, promising high‑quality contests on both sides of the pitch. The group stage schedule for each English club is as follows: - Arsenal: vs OL Lyon (home), @ Barcelona (away), vs Benfica (home), @ Paris FC (away), vs HB Køge (home), @ Inter Milan (away).
- Chelsea: vs Paris Saint‑Germain (home), @ OL Lyon (away), vs Roma (home), @ BK Häcken (away), vs Austria Wien (home), @ OH Leuven (away). - Manchester City: vs Paris Saint‑Germain (home), @ Bayern Munich (away), vs Real Madrid (home), @ BK Häcken (away), vs Austria Wien (home), @ Inter Milan (away). Beyond the group phase, the competition will progress to knockout‑round play‑offs, where the top teams from each group will vie for a place in the quarter‑finals.
The tournament’s format rewards consistency across the six matches, as goal difference and head‑to‑head records can prove decisive when teams finish level on points. The Women’s Champions League continues to grow in stature and financial reward. The so‑called “Super 6” stage, which features the six elite clubs that have secured automatic qualification to the knockout rounds, has already generated significant prize money this season, with each participant receiving a six‑figure sum.
This financial incentive reflects UEFA’s commitment to expanding the women’s game and encouraging clubs to invest in their female squads. For fans and aspiring participants alike, the competition also offers a promotional opportunity: a free‑entry contest that invites supporters to register for a chance to win a substantial cash prize in the next round of the tournament. While the details of the giveaway are still being finalized, the initiative aims to engage a broader audience and add an extra layer of excitement to the already thrilling European campaign. Overall, the 2026/27 Women’s Champions League promises a captivating blend of elite football, emerging talent, and expanding commercial interest.
Arsenal’s clash with Barcelona will be a highlight, pitting two of Europe’s most technically adept sides against each other. Chelsea and Manchester City also face formidable paths, with each club set to encounter a diverse array of opponents from across the continent. As the group stage unfolds, supporters can anticipate tightly contested matches, strategic squad rotations, and the continual evolution of the women’s game on the biggest European stage.