The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase got underway on 8 September 2026. The final is set for 5 June 2027 at the Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain.
It’s the third season under the league phase, so the competition’s format stays familiar: 36 teams, each playing 8 matches against different opponents before the knockout rounds begin.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain step into the new season on the back of a dramatic penalty shootout win over Arsenal in Budapest last May.
This time, the draw has already handed out some heavyweight fixtures, including Barcelona vs PSG, Real Madrid vs Inter, and Arsenal vs Bayern Munich.
When & Where is the UEFA Champions League Happening?
How to Watch UEFA Champions League in Ireland for Free
RTÉ holds non-exclusive free-to-air rights to the Champions League through the 2026-27 season. You can watch one live match every week on RTÉ2 or RTÉ Player. Plus highlights from every other fixture are also available.
Here’s how to watch UEFA Champions League in Ireland for free on RTÉ Player:
Step 1: Go to the RTÉ Player and click on Login
Step 2: Click Sign in
Step 3: Enter your credentials
Step 4: Go to the Live section
Step 5: Select Champions League once RTÉ’s weekly fixture goes live and enjoy free streaming!
How to Watch Every UEFA Champions League Match in Ireland
Premier Sports and TNT Sports share non-exclusive rights to the rest of the fixture list through 2026-27. NOW Sports Extra membership, starting at €17/month, offers both channels in a single subscription.
Here’s how to watch the full UEFA Champions League on mobile via the NOW TV app:
Step 1: Download the NOW TV app from the Play Store or APK
Step 2: Open the app and tap the sidebar
Step 3: Choose Sports Membership
Step 4: Select the Sports Extra plan and click Claim offer
Step 5: Click Checkout
Step 6: Create your account via Continue to checkout, or sign in with an existing one
Step 7: Enter your credentials
Step 8: Choose your payment plan, enter your details, and subscribe. Enjoy streaming!
Schedule for UEFA Champions League 2026/27
| Date | Match | Kickoff (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 2 | ||
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | RC Lens vs. Sporting CP | 5:45 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | Sabah FK vs. SK Slavia Prague | 5:45 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | Galatasaray vs. FC Barcelona | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | RB Leipzig vs. PSV Eindhoven | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | Arsenal vs. LOSC Lille | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | Atlético Madrid vs. Manchester United | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | Villarreal vs. SSC Napoli | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | Viking FK vs. Bayern Munich | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | Inter Milan vs. Club Brugge | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | LASK vs. Liverpool | 5:45 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | Feyenoord vs. Como 1907 | 5:45 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | FC Shakhtar Donetsk vs. AEK Athens | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | Real Betis vs. FC Porto | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | AS Roma vs. Real Madrid | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | ŠK Slovan Bratislava vs. VfB Stuttgart | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | Aston Villa vs. Fenerbahçe | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | Manchester City vs. Paris Saint-Germain | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | FK Bodø/Glimt vs. Borussia Dortmund | 8:00 PM IST |
| Matchday 3 | ||
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund | 5:45 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | Fenerbahçe vs. SK Slavia Prague | 5:45 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | Paris Saint-Germain vs. FC Barcelona | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | Manchester City vs. AEK Athens | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | SSC Napoli vs. FK Bodø/Glimt | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | FC Porto vs. PSV Eindhoven | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | AS Roma vs. ŠK Slovan Bratislava | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | Liverpool vs. Villarreal | 8:00 PM IST |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | VfB Stuttgart vs. Atlético Madrid | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | Como 1907 vs. Manchester United | 5:45 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | LOSC Lille vs. Galatasaray | 5:45 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | Sporting CP vs. LASK | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | Real Betis vs. Feyenoord | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | Inter Milan vs. FC Shakhtar Donetsk | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | Aston Villa vs. Viking FK | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | Club Brugge vs. RC Lens | 8:00 PM IST |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig | 8:00 PM IST |
| Matchday 4 | (Time change: GMT) | |
| Tue, Nov 03, 2026 | Galatasaray vs. VfB Stuttgart | 5:45 PM GMT |
| Tue, Nov 03, 2026 | FC Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Sporting CP | 5:45 PM GMT |
| Tue, Nov 03, 2026 | Feyenoord vs. Inter Milan | 8:00 PM GMT |
| Tue, Nov 03, 2026 | FK Bodø/Glimt vs. LOSC Lille | 8:00 PM GMT |
Note: Daylight Saving Time in Ireland ends on October 25, 2026, moving local time from IST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0).
Other Soccer Leagues to Watch in Ireland
Here’s a list of football tournaments and leagues to watch in Ireland with the help of a VPN like Surfshark:
FAQs – Champions League
1. What format does the Champions League use in 2026-27?
This is the third season under the league phase format. All 36 clubs play eight matches each in a single table, with the top 8 advancing directly to the Round of 16 and 9th-24th going through a play-off round.
2. Which team has the most UEFA Champions League titles?
Real Madrid leads with a record 15 Champions League titles, making them the most successful club in the competition’s history.
3. Who are the defending champions?
Paris Saint-Germain, after beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties (1-1 after extra time) in the 2026 final in Budapest, their second title in a row.
4. Can I watch every Champions League match in Ireland for free?
Not quite. RTÉ Player broadcasts one free match per week. Everything else airs on Premier Sports and TNT Sports, both available through a NOW Sports Extra membership.
Conclusion
The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League kicked off its league phase on 8 September 2026, running through to the final on 5 June 2027 at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
You can watch the UEFA Champions League in Ireland via free-to-air coverage on RTÉ Player, or catch every match with Premier Sports and TNT Sports via NOW.
Watching from outside Ireland? You’ll need a VPN to unlock these services. Surfshark is our #1 choice.
