Newcastle United have qualified for the Champions League and here is everything you need to know about the competition in 2025-26, including the new format explained.
After a season out of the competition, Newcastle United sealed Champions League qualification despite losing to Everton on the final day.
Manchester United beating Aston Villa was enough to send them through.
It means Eddie Howe’s side have ensured St James’ Park will play host to some huge nights next season.
The Newcastle United manager led his side back into the Champions League during the 2023-24 season and saw them thrash Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 at home in October 2023.
Still, there have been plenty of changes to the Champions League since then, so here’s all you need to know.
Champions League 2025-26 dates
The 2025-26 season in the Champions League will start on Tuesday, 16 September, 2025.
The League phase runs until Wednesday, 28 January, 2026.
Champions League 2025-26 format
The major change for Newcastle fans to get used to is the advent of a new League phase.
All 36 participants form one league table, rather than 32 teams being split into eight groups of four.
It means Newcastle are guaranteed eight matches in the new league phase. They will play their fixtures against eight different teams – four of which will come at home and four of which will be away.
Each team will be ranked in four seeding pots. They will then be drawn to play against two opponents from each pot.
Newcastle United 2025-26 Champions League pot confirmed
Newcastle will be in pot four.
- Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea
- Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge
- Pot 3: Tottenham, PSV, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Bodo/Glimt, Marseille
- Pot 4: FC Copenhagen, Monaco, Galatasaray, Union Saint-Gilloise, Qarabag, Athletic Club, Newcastle United, Pafos, Kairat Almaty
Newcastle United’s Champions League 2025-26 prize money
Newcastle could earn £17million for qualifying for the Champions League, though will clearly have eyes on more.
| Stage | Prize money |
| Winner | £21.5m |
| Runner-up | £15.9m |
| Semi-finals | £12.9m |
| Quarter-finals | £10.7m |
| Round-of-16 | £9.4m |
Sky Sports have detailed the financial rewards on offer for teams who progress through the competition.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
