Women’s Champions League kicks off: full guide – UEFA Women’s Champions League – News

The UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying round kicks off on Tuesday, with 40 clubs competing for 12 remaining places in the 32-team knockout phase.

The groups

Group 1: Ajax (NED), Thór/KA (ISL), Wexford Youths (IRL), Linfield (NIR, hosts)

Group 2: FC Minsk (BLR), Somatio Barcelona FA (CYP), Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN, hosts), Slovan Bratislava (SVK)

Group 3: Glasgow City (SCO, hosts), Górnik Łęczna (POL), Anderlecht (BEL), Martve (GEO)

Group 4: Slavia Praha (CZE), MTK Hungária (HUN, hosts), Ataşehir Belediyespor (TUR), Mitrovica (KOS)

Group 5: ŽFK Spartak (SRB), Basel (SUI), Pandor Qiryat Gat (ISR), Breznica Pljevlja (MNE, hosts)

Group 6: Olimpia Cluj (ROU), WFC Khakhiv (UKR, hosts), Cardiff Met (WAL), Birkirkara (MLT)

Group 7: BIIK-Kazygurt (KAZ), Landhaus Austria Wien (AUT), Akadimia Elpides Karditsas (GRE), Rigas Futbola skola (LVA, hosts)

Group 8: SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH, hosts), Pärnu (EST), Vllaznia (ALB), Agarista – SS Anenii Noi (MDA)

Group 9: Gintra Universitetas (LTU, hosts), NSA Sofia (BUL), Honka (FIN), EBS/Skála (FRO)

Group 10: Avaldsnes (NOR), Osijek (CRO, hosts), Sporting CP (POR), ŽFK Dragon 2014 (MKD)

• Former quarter-finalists Glasgow City and Slavia Praha will be seeded in the round of 32 if they get through.
• Basel, Górnik Łęczna, Somatio Barcelona FA, Anderlecht, Akadimia Elpides Karditsas, EBS/Skála, Mitrovica and Agarista – SS Anenii Noi are all making their debuts.
• KÍ Klaksvík, the only club to enter the first 17 seasons of UEFA women’s competition, are absent after losing the 2017 Faroese title to EBS/Skála.

Tournament calendar
Qualifying round draw: 22 June
Qualifying round: 7–13 August
Round of 32 draw: 17 August
Round of 32: 12/13 & 26/27 September
Round of 16 draw: 1 October
Round of 16: 16/17 October & 31 October/1 November
Quarter-final & semi-final draw: 9 November
Quarter-finals: 20/21 & 27/28 March
Semi-finals: 20/21 & 27/28 April
Final: 18 May 2019, Ferencváros Stadium, Budapest

Bye to round of 32
Lyon (FRA, holders)
Wolfsburg (GER)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Barcelona (ESP)
FC Rosengård (SWE)
Manchester City (ENG)
Bayern München (GER)
Fortuna Hjørring (DEN)
Chelsea (ENG)
Brøndby (DEN)
FC Zürich (SUI)
Linköping (SWE)
Zvezda-2005 (RUS)
Sparta Praha (CZE)
LSK Kvinner (NOR)
Atlético Madrid (ESP)
St. Pölten (AUT)
Fiorentina (ITA)
Ryazan-VDV (RUS)
Juventus (ITA)