United Women qualify for Champions League ‘proper’

Thursday 18 September 2025 22:14

Manchester United have qualified for the main stage of the Women’s Champions League for the first time.

That’s after Marc Skinner’s Reds overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Norwegian side Brann 3-1 on aggregate in the third and final round of qualifying.

United triumphed 3-0 in Thursday’s second leg at Leigh Sports Village, thanks to a hat-trick from Elisabeth Terland, and will now be one of 18 clubs involved in Friday’s draw for the league phase.

The draw is due to take place at 11:00 BST in Nyon, Switzerland and we will bring you news of our six opponents – three home, three away – as soon as they are confirmed, here in the United App and on ManUtd.com.

Highlights: United Women v Brann Video

Highlights: United Women v Brann

🎥 Highlights | The best bits from a landmark night in the Champions League for United Women…

Before Thursday’s final batch of qualifiers, nine clubs had already confirmed their places in the league phase, which replaces the group stage in the women’s competition this season.

Arsenal secured their spot by winning the European title last term, while eight more teams joined them on account of their domestic-league finishes in 2024/25.

The top two from France (Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain) and Germany (Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg) will be in the draw, as will Chelsea, Juventus, Benfica and Barcelona, the reigning champions of England, Italy, Portugal and Spain respectively.

Sides from the same association cannot play each other at this stage, so United will not be able to face Arsenal or Chelsea.

Advancing with the Reds from qualifying are eight other clubs, including Italian side Roma, who also turned around a first-leg deficit to advance.

Atletico Madrid beat Hacken in extra-time to progress, while Atletico’s local adversaries Real are also through. St. Polten, Twente and Valerenga have all made it back to the Champions League ‘proper’ having lined up in the group stage last year, while Paris FC are involved for the second time in three years.

Belgian outfit OH Leuven took a two-goal lead into their second leg with Vorskla, meaning a 0-0 draw tonight was enough to continue their first campaign in the competition.

Friday’s draw will see the 18 teams divided into three pots of six clubs, determined by UEFA’s club coefficient rankings which are established at the beginning of the season.

United will be drawn against two opponents from each of the three pots and play one opponent from each pot at home, and the other away, to make a total of six league-phase matches.

The first matchday is due to be contested on 7/8 October, with the last set for 17 December.

United Women qualify for Champions League ‘proper’