Chelsea drawn against Real Sociedad in Champions League qualifier
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Fuller details have emerged of the Women's Champions League qualifying draw in which Chelsea will face Real Sociedad, with the wider bracket now confirmed alongside the club's own tie. Chelsea, needing to win over two legs to reach the 18-team league phase, dropped into the qualifying rounds after finishing third in the WSL last season, their lowest finish since 2019, and go in as favourites against the Spanish side, who themselves finished third in Spain behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The draw was split into a "champions path" for domestic title-winners and a "league path" for runners-up and third-placed sides such as Chelsea, with other league-path ties including Eintracht Frankfurt v Paris Saint-Germain, St Pölten v Juventus and Wolfsburg v Inter, plus the standout fixture of Ajax against Real Madrid; HB Køge, who knocked out Scottish champions Hearts, will play PSV Eindhoven. Chelsea host the first leg on 26 August and travel to Spain on 2 September, three days before their WSL opener against Aston Villa. Clubs reaching the league phase are guaranteed a minimum of €505,000, plus €60,000 per win and €20,000 per draw, with additional prize money up to €180,000 depending on final standing, while the eventual champions would collect €1,050,000 across the knockout rounds, including €500,000 for winning the final.
- Full qualifying draw confirmed alongside Chelsea's Real Sociedad tie
- Ajax face Real Madrid in the round's standout fixture
- Chelsea's two legs are on 26 August and 2 September
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Chelsea are heading into a Champions League qualifier because they finished third in the Women's Super League last season, their weakest domestic finish since 2019, which meant missing automatic entry to the competition's main "league phase". To get there, they must beat Real Sociedad, who finished third in Spain's top flight, across two legs later this month.
The Women's Champions League now works on a two-path system: a "champions path" for teams that won their domestic league, and a "league path" for runners-up and third-placed clubs like Chelsea, who must win a qualifying tie to join 18 teams in the main phase. Reaching that stage brings a guaranteed minimum payment along with further prize money for wins, draws and league position, so there is a clear financial as well as sporting incentive.
Chelsea are one of English football's dominant women's clubs but have not had it all their own way domestically in recent seasons, making this qualifier a notable early test before their WSL campaign resumes.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Chelsea face Real Sociedad in WCL third qualifying round with riches at stake”.