The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 season will begin with the qualifying rounds. Furthermore, the first leg of the qualifying round promises an exciting start to the new season for supporters. The winners of the qualifying rounds will advance to the next round. Nevertheless, several notable players are expected to deliver standout performances during the new Champions League season.
Upcoming Matches Schedule
Kauno Žalgiris vs. Drita
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET | 09:00 a.m. PT | 09:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Darius and Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas.
Lincoln Red Imps vs. Inter d’Escaldes
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET | 09:00 a.m. PT | 09:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Europa Sports Complex, Gibraltar.
Ararat-Armenia vs. Riga
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET | 09:00 a.m. PT | 09:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Abovyan City Stadium, Abovyan.
Sabah vs The New Saints FC
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET | 09:00 a.m. PT | 09:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Bank Respublika Arena, Masazir
FK Vardar vs KuPS
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 01:00 p.m. ET| 10:00 a.m. PT| 10:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje.
Floriana vs Shamrock Rovers
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 01:30 p.m. ET| 10:30 a.m. PT| 11:00 p.m. IST
Venue: Centenary Stadium, Attard.
Borac vs. Levski Sofia
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 02:30 p.m. ET | 11:30 a.m. PT | 12:00 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: Banja Luka City Stadium, Banja Luka.
Tre Fiori vs Larne
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 02:30 p.m. ET | 11:30 a.m. PT | 12:00 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: San Marino Stadium.
KÍ vs. Atert Bissen
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 02:45 p.m. ET | 11:45 a.m. PT | 12:15 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: Við Djúpumýrar, Klaksvík.
Víkingur Reykjavík vs ETO Győr
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 03:00 p.m. ET| 12:00 p.m. PT| 12:30 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: Víkingsvöllur, Reykjavík.
Kairat vs Sutjeska
Date: July 8, 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 11:00 a.m. ET | 08:00 a.m. PT | 08:30 p.m. IST.
Venue: Almaty Arena, Almaty.
Tallinna FC Flora vs FC Iberia 1999
Date: July 8, 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET | 09:00 a.m. PT | 09:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn
Petrocub vs. Egnatia
Date: July 8, 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 01:00 p.m. ET| 10:00 a.m. PT| 10:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău.
Maxline vs Craiova
Date: July 8, 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 01:00 p.m. ET| 10:00 a.m. PT| 10:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Mezőkövesdi Városi Stadion, Mezőkövesd.
Selected Games Previews
Kauno Žalgiris vs. Drita
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET | 09:00 a.m. PT | 09:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Darius and Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas.
Expected Lineups for Kauno Žalgiris
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Joris Aliukonis, Deividas Mikelionis, and Tomas Švedkauskas |
| Defenders | Tautvydas Burdzilauskas, Anton Tolordava, Luka Racic, Aldayr Hernandez, Marko Konatar, Nosa Edokpolor, Joris Moutachy, and Rokas Lekiatas |
| Midfielders | Damjan Pavlovic, Amine Benchaib, Yukiyoshi Karashima, Gratas Sirgėdas, Fedor Černych, Léo Ribeiro, Franco Baldassarra, and Fabien Ourega |
| Forwards | Renan Oliveira, Motiejus Burba, and Haris Kadrić |
Expected Lineups for Drita
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Faton Maloku, Laurit Behluli, and Eron Isufi |
| Defenders | Besnik Krasniqi, Blerton Sheji, Altin Bytyqi, Raddy Ovouka, Agan Mjaki, Jorgo Pellumbi, and Hajdin Salihu |
| Midfielders | Rron Broja, Igball Jashari, Vesel Limaj, Liridon Balaj, Albert Dabiqaj, and Wiliam Baeten |
| Forwards | Arb Manaj, Oniks Grezda, Blerim Krasniqi, Kristal Abazaj, Kemehlo Nguena, and Mike Arthur |
Previous Rivalries
Kauno Žalgiris is one of the top clubs in the A Lyga competition. The team currently sits fourth in the 2026 A-League standings. Meanwhile, Kauno Žalgiris defeated BFA in the quarter-final of the Lithuanian Football Cup. They are advancing to the semi-final of the Lithuanian Football Cup.
By contrast, Drita has consistent performances throughout the football Superleague of Kosovo. They topped the 2025-26 Football Superleague of Kosovo standings. Now, the team will compete in the upcoming UEFA Champions League.
The Pick: Kauno Žalgiris
Lincoln Red Imps vs. Inter d’Escaldes
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET | 09:00 a.m. PT | 09:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Europa Sports Complex, Gibraltar.
Expected Lineups for Lincoln Red Imps
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Nauzet Santana, Jaylan Hankins, and Mark Pieter Hamm |
| Defenders | Ethan Jolley, Christian Rutjens, Gabri Cardozo, Bernardo Lopes, Ethan Britto, and Julliani Giowani Eersteling |
| Midfielders | Nicolas Sellassie Clara Pinto, Mandi, Toni, Graeme Torrilla, and Joe |
| Forwards | Lee Casciaro, Kike Gómez, Alejandro Miguel Mula Sanchez, Yussef Flalhi Idrissi, Nano, Facundo Alvarez, Manuel Toledano Ortiz, and Ruben Garcia Flores |
Expected Lineups for Inter d’Escaldes
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Juan David Terradez Becerra, and Javi Díaz |
| Defenders | Anwar Habib Hernández Martínez, Jilmar Torres, Alex Sanchez, Jaouad Erraji Berroug, Adrian Da Cunha, Marc Rodriguez, Maurizio Pochettino, and Pol Cabanes Delanssays |
| Midfielders | Víctor Alonso, Juan Cámara, David López, Antonio Islam Otegui Khalfi, Pablo Molina, and Mamadoulamine Diaby Dabo |
| Forwards | Faysal Chouaib, Domi Berlanga, Antoni Paredes García, Alex Prelado Leitao, and Borja Arellano Monedero |
Previous Rivalries
Lincoln Red Imps defeated Lynx, reflecting the team’s strong form throughout the season. Furthermore, the team has strong form in both defense and attack, and will aim to make it another win in the upcoming fixture.
Inter d’Escaldes suffered a 2-1 defeat to Carroi in their most recent match. However, they delivered an inconsistent performance in their previous match.
The Pick: Lincoln Red Imps
Ararat-Armenia vs. Riga
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET | 09:00 a.m. PT | 09:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Abovyan City Stadium, Abovyan.
Expected Lineups for Ararat-Armenia
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Arman Nersesyan, and João Victor Donna Bravim |
| Defenders | Hugo Oliveira, Junior Bueno, Luis Felipe, Kamo Hovhannisyan, Bruno Pereira, Edgar Grigoryan, Bruno Wilson, and Alexandros Malis |
| Midfielders | Mishel Ayvazyan, Armen Ambartsumyan, Zidane Banjaqui, Maxence Carlier, Karen Muradyan, Alwyn Tera, Artur Serobyan, and Carlos Henrique Franca Freires |
| Forwards | Zhirayr Shaghoyan, Arayik Eloyan, Alioune Ndour, Paul Ayongo, and Sandro Lima |
Expected Lineups for Riga
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Krišjānis Zviedris, and Frenks Orols |
| Defenders | Karl Wassom, Raivis Jurkovskis, Andrés Salazar, Baba Musah, Maksims Toņiševs, Paulo Eduardo, and Antonijs Černomordijs |
| Midfielders | Orlando Galo, Raki Aouani, Iago Siqueira, Brian Peña, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, Meissa Diop, Ahmed Ankrah, Juan Christian Pereira Coelho, and Martins Caio Ferreira |
| Forwards | Reginaldo Ramires, Muhammed Badamosi, and Abdulrahman Taiwo |
Previous Rivalries
Ararat-Armenia delivered an inconsistent campaign last season. The team experienced a mix of successes and failures throughout the previous season. Nevertheless, Ararat-Armenia will look to bounce back and put up a tough fight in the upcoming Champions League match.
In contrast, Riga currently sits second in the 2026 Latvian Higher League standings. Riga will aim to continue its winning streak in the upcoming match.
The Pick: Riga
FK Vardar vs KuPS
Date: July 07, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 01:00 p.m. ET| 10:00 a.m. PT| 10:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje.
Expected Lineups for FK Vardar
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Daniel Dikovski and Davor Taleski |
| Defenders | Mihail Manevski, Mislav Matić, Filip Najdovski, Darko Velkovski, Nenad Miskovski, and Georgije Jankulov |
| Midfielders | David Babunski, Boban Nikolov, Goran Zakarić, Dimitar Todorovski, Filip Duranski, Miguel Pires, and Nemanja Bosančič |
| Forwards | Gerson Rodrigues, Azer Omeragikj, Ediz Spahiu, Diego Casteneda, Ian Puleio, Dimitar Danev, and Joaquin Eduardo Torres |
Expected Lineups for KuPS
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeepers | Johannes Kreidl, Hemmo Riihimäki, and Kasperi Silen |
| Defenders | Karl Ward, Kasim Nuhu, Arttu Lötjönen, Bob Nii Armah, Clinton Antwi, Brahima Magassa, and Taneli Hämäläinen |
| Midfielders | Saku Heiskanen, Petteri Pennanen, Valentin Gasc, Niilo Kujasalo, Tommi Jyry, Calvin Kabuye, Aaro Toivonen, and Akseli Puukko |
| Forwards | Saku Savolainen, Gustav Engvall, Jaime Jose Moreno Ciorciari, Arttu Heinonen, Piotr Parzyszek, Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba, and Saikou Touray |
Previous Rivalries
FK Vardar defeated Shkëndija 3-0 in the Macedonian First Football League. Moreover, the team has maintained a consistent form throughout the league campaign. FK Vardar will aim to record another victory in the upcoming match.
Conversely, KuPS has delivered consistent performances throughout the Veikkausliiga campaign. KuPS will look to put up a strong fight against FK Vardar in the upcoming fixture.
The Pick: FK Vardar
Conclusion
Fans are eager to see each club make an impact during its UEFA Champions League campaign. In particular, the first qualifying rounds will feature impressive performances from top-tier clubs.
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