UEFA confirmed the dates and kick-off times for the league phase of the Champions League at noon on Saturday. VfB host Viking FK on Matchday 1, the game being played on Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 18:45 CEST at the MHP Arena. This will be the first meeting between the two clubs.
Matchday 2 sees the Cannstatt boys head to Slovakia to take on Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 21:00 CET. The last time that the two teams faced one another was in January 2025, again in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, with VfB running out 3-1 winners in the Slovakian capital. The club’s remaining fixtures are listed below.
What happens after the league phase
This is the second time in three years that VfB have qualified for the Champions League. A total of 36 teams are involved in the league phase of Europe’s premier club competition, with each of them taking on eight different opponents – four at home and four away. The top eight clubs from the league phase go straight through to the round of 16, while those finishing between ninth and 24th qualify for play-offs, which will determine the remaining eight places in that round. For the other 12 teams, their European journey will be over.
| Matchday | Kick-off | Opponents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wednesday 9 September 2026, 18:45 CEST | VfB – Viking FK |
| 2 | Wednesday 14 October 2026, 21:00 CEST | SK Slovan Bratislava – VfB |
| 3 | Tuesday 20 October 2026, 21:00 CEST | VfB – Atletico de Madrid |
| 4 | Tuesday 3 November 2026, 18:45 CET | Galatasaray A.S. – VfB |
| 5 | Wednesday 25 November 2026, 21:00 CET | FC Internazionale Milano – VfB |
| 6 | Wednesday 9 December 2026, 21:00 CET | VfB – LOSC Lille |
| 7 | Tuesday 19 January 2027, 21:00 CET | VfB – Club Brugge KV |
| 8 | Wednesday 27 January 2027, 21:00 CET | PSV Eindhoven – VfB |
