Champions League 2026/27 first‑round qualifiers see dramatic comebacks and surprise winners

The opening round of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 qualification phase, played between 7 July and 26 August 2026, featured 29 clubs competing for seven places in the group stage. Ten ties were decided in the return legs, producing several notable turn‑arounds. Shamrock Rovers (Ireland) overturned a 0‑2 first‑leg deficit to beat Floriana 5‑1, securing a 5‑3 aggregate win. Ararat‑Armenia progressed despite a 2‑3 loss on the night, advancing 4‑3 on aggregate after a 2‑0 first‑leg victory. KuPS (Finland) survived a 2‑3 reverse‑leg loss, winning 4‑3 on aggregate after a penalty shoot‑out in extra time. Kauno Žalgiris (Lithuania) clinched a dramatic 2‑3 away win with a 94th‑minute penalty, edging through 4‑5 on aggregate. Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) eased past Borac Banja Luka with a 5‑1 total score. Larne (Northern Ireland) recorded its first ever Champions League victory, while Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar) and Sabah Baku (Azerbaijan) also moved on to the next round. The qualifiers follow a three‑stage format – Champions Path, League Path, and playoffs – with losers dropping into the Europa League or Europa Conference League.

The competition continues with the second qualifying round scheduled to begin later in July, where the surviving clubs will vie for the remaining group‑stage berths.