Ukrainian Shakhtar secures spot in main stage of 2026/27 Champions League
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
The lineup for the new Champions League campaign is already taking shape, with representatives from the top European leagues—England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Turkey—locking in their places. But on May 10, an unexpected addition joined them: a team from Ukraine, ranked 23rd in UEFA’s association standings.
Shakhtar Donetsk not only clinched another Ukrainian Premier League title, but also guaranteed their spot in the main round of the 2026/27 Champions League. The Miners earned direct entry to the group stage thanks to their first-place finish in the UPL and their strong club coefficient.
An added boost came from the results of rivals in other European leagues, who lost their chance to overtake the Ukrainian side in the battle for direct qualification. Shakhtar will compete in the main draw of Europe’s most prestigious club competition as the highest-ranked team among those who qualified via the Champions Path.
