Chelsea Draw Real Sociedad in UWCL Third Round Qualifying for August 26

Chelsea will face Real Sociedad in a two-legged UWCL qualifier on Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 after finishing third in the WSL.

Chelsea will play Real Sociedad in the third round of qualifying for the Women's Champions League, marking the first time in six years the London club has failed to earn automatic entry. The two-legged tie is scheduled for Aug. 26 and Sept. 2, with the winner securing a position in the competition proper. This shift in status follows Manchester City dethroning the Blues as Women's Super League champions last season, ending a streak of six consecutive domestic titles for the West London side. Chelsea concluded their recent domestic campaign in third place, necessitating this qualification path.

Real Sociedad enters the draw after finishing third in Liga F last season. This represents only their second qualification appearance in recent history. During the 2022-23 campaign, the Spanish side reached the qualifiers but failed to progress beyond the second round, suffering defeats in both matches. In other third-round pairings, Ajax will face Real Madrid, while Inter Milan has been drawn against former champions Wolfsburg. Paris Saint-Germain is set to compete against Eintracht Frankfurt, and Juventus will take on St. Polten.

Automatic Qualifiers and Tournament Structure

Several European giants have already secured their places in the group stages without needing to navigate the qualifying rounds. Barcelona, the current holders, qualified automatically after a 4-0 victory over OL Lyonnais in the final held in Oslo this past May. Despite that loss, Lyon qualified as D1 Arkema champions alongside runners-up Paris FC. Manchester City and Arsenal have also secured their spots as the top two finishers in the WSL. Other league winners who have already bypassed the qualifying phase include Bayern Munich, Roma, Benfica, and BK Hacken.

Historical Context for Chelsea and Sociedad

Chelsea's requirement to play a two-legged tie breaks a long-standing tradition of direct entry. The club's third-place finish in the WSL last year forced them into this bracket, whereas they previously relied on winning the league to avoid early-season knockout games. For Real Sociedad, the opportunity to reach the competition proper comes after a successful domestic run in Spain. Their previous attempt in the 2022-23 season ended prematurely, leaving them with an 0-2 record in qualifying matches during that specific cycle.

Upcoming Fixture Schedule

The matches on Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 will determine which clubs join the seeded champions in the main tournament. While Chelsea avoided high-profile draws like Real Madrid or Wolfsburg, the matchup against the third-best team in Spain remains the final hurdle. In other news surrounding the competition's landscape, London City has signed Putellas, and Wrexham Women have launched their own Champions League campaign. Real Madrid also recently completed a high-value transfer for Swedish star Schröder to bolster their squad ahead of their upcoming fixture against Ajax.