UEFA recently conducted the official draw for the third qualifying round and play-off phase for the 2025/26 Champions League.
During this phase, the teams that will complete the 36 participating clubs in the league phase, scheduled to begin in September 2025, will be defined.
Rodrigo Huescas’ path in Europe
Mexican footballer and former Cruz Azul player Rodrigo Huescas, currently with FC Copenhagen, advanced smoothly to the third round of the Champions League.
This after eliminating Kosovo’s Drita with a 3-0 aggregate score, starting both matches.
The Danish team will now face the winner of Malmö vs. Rigas FC in the third round.
With the illusion of reaching the European league phase and becoming one of the first Mexicans to do so in the Champions League 2025/26.
Confirmed pairings
Duels already defined in the third qualifying round of the Champions League include matches such as:
Rangers vs Viktoria Plzen
Feyenoord vs Fenerbahçe
Nice vs Benfica
Malmö vs Copenhagen
Shkëndija vs Qarabag
Dinamos vs Pafos
Kairat vs Slovan Bratislava
Ludogorets vs Ferencváros
The matches are scheduled to be played between August 5, 6 and 12, 2025.
The teams that will complete the 36 clubs participating in the league phase will be decided
QuéOnnda.com
Play-off phase and key dates
The advancing teams will play in the Champions League play-off round between August 19 and 27, 2025, over two legs.
The clubs with the best UEFA ranking enter directly:
Celtic, Bodo/Glimt, Basel and Sturm Graz are already seeded, awaiting their opponents from the preliminary round.
What you should know as a Hispanic fan in the U.S.
Rodrigo Huescas’ proximity to the Champions League group stage makes this tournament a historic opportunity.
Decisive dates: matches between August 5 and 27 could change the outlook for South American and European clubs.
Teams that lose in this path will go to the Europa League or Conference League depending on the elimination round.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.