Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Shakhtar Donetsk has secured an automatic place in the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, based on club coefficients and the qualification outcomes of other teams.
Both the 2025/26 Champions League finalists, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, have already qualified for the competition's league phase through their domestic leagues. This development allows Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk to enter directly into the group stage.
Under the revised format for European club competition from 2024, club coefficients—reflecting performance over five years—are crucial. If the Champions League winners also qualify through their league, the domestic champion with the highest coefficient among associations ranked 11 to 55 is granted direct entry into the league phase, bypassing earlier qualifying rounds.
Currently, Shakhtar holds the highest coefficient (56.250) among all domestic champions outside the top ten ranked associations, securing their direct qualification. No other club from associations 11–55 with a higher coefficient can still win their domestic league.
As a result, Shakhtar will take the Champions League winners' league phase spot, and the qualification list will be updated. Their original qualifying spot will go to the next highest-ranked team(s) by coefficient. Clubs from Liechtenstein do not have a domestic league and are not eligible under this rule.