In a significant development for women’s football in Europe, UEFA has officially announced that the draws for both the 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League and the inaugural Women’s Europa Cup will take place on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. This marks a major milestone in the ongoing expansion and professionalization of the women’s game on the continent.
The UEFA Women’s Champions League, established in 2001 and rebranded in 2009, has grown tremendously in popularity and competitiveness. In recent seasons, it has showcased the increasing depth and quality of women’s football across Europe, with top clubs like FC Barcelona, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea FC, and VfL Wolfsburg drawing global attention and fanbases. The confirmation of the 2025/26 draw continues this momentum, promising yet another exciting season of top-tier women’s football.
However, the headline-grabbing element of UEFA’s announcement is the debut of the Women’s Europa Cup. This new competition is designed to mirror the structure of the men’s Europa League, providing a second-tier continental tournament for women’s clubs that narrowly miss out on Champions League qualification.
The introduction of this competition is seen as a key step toward offering broader opportunities to developing teams and growing the competitive landscape beyond the top elite.
The Women’s Europa Cup aims to bring more international experience to clubs across Europe, helping bridge the gap between the top-performing teams and emerging sides.
It will give clubs from smaller leagues a platform to compete on the European stage, potentially inspiring investment and development at home. Much like its male counterpart, the competition is expected to feature a group stage followed by knockout rounds, culminating in a final that could become another marquee event in the women’s football calendar.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin praised the launch of the Europa Cup as “a historic moment that reflects the rapid progress of women’s football.” He emphasized that this new competition will “not only enhance the competitive structure but also inspire a new generation of players and fans across Europe.”
The draw for both tournaments will be conducted in Nyon, Switzerland, at UEFA’s headquarters.
It will be streamed live on UEFA’s digital platforms, ensuring fans around the world can follow the matchups as they are announced. Clubs, players, and supporters alike will be watching closely, eager to learn their group-stage opponents and begin planning for what promises to be an action-packed season.
UEFA has also confirmed that changes to the qualifying formats have been made to accommodate the new Europa Cup. These changes are designed to allow more clubs to participate in European competition while maintaining a high standard of play. Further details on the format, prize money distribution, and calendar for the Women’s Europa Cup are expected to be unveiled following the draw.
As women’s football continues to reach new heights, the dual draw on 24 June represents more than just fixture planning—it’s a signal of growth, investment, and opportunity. With both elite and aspiring clubs now having continental stages to compete on, the future of women’s club football in Europe looks brighter than ever.
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