Why are there no Europa League or Conference League games today, Thursday, Sept. 10?
Champions League games are played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with Europa League and, more recently, Conference League fixtures following on Thursdays. That’s how European weeks were scheduled prior to UEFA’s 2024 format change, which is the reason this week’s slate only contains Champions League matchups.
Why are Champions League games scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10?
The opening week of the 2026-27 Champions League is being played across three days: Tuesday, Sept. 8; Wednesday, Sept. 9; and Thursday, Sept. 10.
By contrast, no Europa League games are scheduled for this week, with the league phase of the competition not beginning until next week. Games are, again unusually, slated for Wednesday, Sept. 16, and Thursday, Sept. 17.
That traditional structure will resume going forward, but this is designated an ‘exclusive week’ for the Champions League. As the name suggests, that means only games from that competition are taking place.
Across the course of the season, each of UEFA’s three club competitions is given priority for one week, with no matches scheduled in either of the other two competitions.
When is the Europa League exclusive week?
The Europa League’s ‘exclusive week’ is next week, with no Champions League or Conference League games on the schedule. As part of that, the opening games of the league phase will be spread across Wednesday and Thursday, rather than just Thursday.
The league phase of the Conference League, in which each team will play six games rather than eight, doesn’t begin until Oct. 15, after the upcoming international break.
When is the Conference League exclusive week?
The Conference League’s ‘exclusive week’ is just before Christmas. All games will be played at the same time on Thursday, Dec. 17, the date of the final matchday of the league phase, which will finalize the qualifiers for the round of 16 and the knockout phase playoffs.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.