Overview
- The third qualifying round concludes Tuesday, Aug. 11, with ten second‑leg matches that will determine which teams advance to the Champions League play-off round.
- Eight of the ten ties enter the second leg level or separated by a single goal, setting up multiple close finishes while Dinamo Zagreb holds a commanding 5–0 first‑leg lead.
- Winners from the play-off round will join the 36‑team league phase that begins in September with each club scheduled to play eight midweek matches through January 2027.
- Broadcast access varies by market with Paramount+ carrying rights in the U.S. and SonyLIV plus Sony Sports Network listed for India, though individual qualifying matches may not appear on every platform.
- Clubs eliminated in the third qualifying round drop into the Europa League play-off round and the compressed August schedule means successful teams face a tight turnaround before play-off first legs on Aug. 18–19.