The 12th edition of the UEFA Youth League will take place from September 16, 2025, to April 20, 2026. According to the official UEFA website, participants of the tournament will be divided into two pathways in the fall of 2025 — the Champions League Path and the National Champions Path. Both will be expanded compared to the format of the previous season.
The tournament is adapted to the new format of UEFA’s main club competitions. It will feature 36 youth teams representing clubs from the general stage of the 2025/2026 Champions League (Champions League Path).
The National Champions Path will include the winners of the youth championships of all UEFA associations. If a club qualifies for the tournament through both the Champions League Path and the National Champions Path, it will automatically be directed to the Champions League Path. The vacated spot in the National Champions Path will be filled by the runner-up of the corresponding championship. If that runner-up has also qualified for the tournament through the Champions League Path, their place will not be taken by anyone else. In other words, Dynamo, as the winner of the U-19 Ukrainian championship, has already guaranteed its participation in the UEFA Youth League, but if the main team of the Kyiv club qualifies for the Champions League, the ticket to Europe will also go to the youngsters of Shakhtar.
The winner of the UEFA Youth League automatically qualifies for the National Champions Path if it does not qualify for the tournament through the Champions League Path.
The tournament on the Champions League Path will replicate the first six rounds of the general stage of the senior tournament. Participants will play six matches, three at home and three away. The best 22 clubs will continue their fight in the Round of 16.
The tournament on the National Champions Path will consist of three rounds, carried out in a knockout format with two-leg matches (home and away). Clubs from associations with the highest rankings will start the tournament in the second round. After the third round, 10 clubs will continue their fight in the Round of 16.
Starting from the Round of 16, there will be a play-off. The winner of each confrontation will be determined by the outcome of a single match. Clubs ranked from 1st to 6th (Champions League Path) will immediately qualify for the Round of 16 and will play against clubs ranked from 17th to 22nd. Clubs ranked from 7th to 16th in the Round of 16 will face teams that qualified through the National Champions Path.
The pairs for the Round of 8, Quarter-Finals, and Semi-Finals will be determined by a draw.
The tournament will conclude with the final stage featuring four teams (semi-finals and final), which will be played at the Colovray Stadium in Nyon.
Draw: August 28, Monaco.
Round 1: September 16/17/18.
Round 2: September 30/October 1.
Round 3: October 21/22.
Round 4: November 4/5.
Round 5: November 25/26.
Round 6: December 9/10.
Draw: September 1, Nyon.
First match of the first round: September 17.
Return matches of the first round: October 1.
First matches of the second round: October 22.
Return matches of the second round: November 5.
First matches of the third round: November 26.
Return matches of the third round: December 10.
Round of 16 draw: December 12, Nyon.
Round of 16: February 3/4, 2026.
Play-off rounds draw from Round of 8: February 6, 2026, Nyon.
Round of 8: February 24/25, 2026.
Quarter-Finals: March 17/18, 2026.
Semi-Finals: April 17, 2026 (Colovray Stadium, Nyon).
Final: April 20, 2026 (Colovray Stadium, Nyon).