Futsal Champions League Draw: HIT and Athletic Learn Their Fate

The draw for the preliminary and main rounds of the 2026/27 Futsal Champions League took place in Nyon, Switzerland, setting the stage for two Ukrainian sides to compete in Europe's premier club competition for the second time in history. Kyiv-based HIT, the Ukrainian champions, and Athletic, the runners-up, will fly the flag. HIT enters the Main Round via Path A, where the top three from each group advance to the knockout stage. Athletic will compete in Path B, where only group winners progress. HIT landed in Group 4 alongside Portuguese heavyweights Benfica, Spanish powerhouse El Pozo, and Dutch champions Tigers Roermond. A tough quartet, but HIT will aim to secure one of the three berths to the playoffs. Athletic were placed in Group 8 of Path B. Their first confirmed opponent is Serbian champions Loznica. Two more teams will join the group after completing the Preliminary Round, scheduled for August 25–30. Athletic need to top the group to move on. The Main Round runs from October 27 to November 1. HIT will host their group matches in the Netherlands, while Athletic travel to Serbia. Full draw: Path A Group 1: Barcelona (Spain), Semey (Kazakhstan), Lucenec (Slovakia), Minerva (Switzerland). Group 2: Kairat (Kazakhstan), Anderlecht (Belgium), United Galati (Romania), Beitars (Latvia). Group 3: Sporting CP (Portugal), Etoile (France), Olmissum (Croatia), Stalitsa (Belarus). Group 4: Benfica (Portugal), El Pozo (Spain), HIT (Ukraine), Tigers Roermond (Netherlands). Path B Group 5: Piast Gliwice (Poland), Araz (Azerbaijan), winners of Preliminary groups C and E. Group 6: Zalgiris (Lithuania), Differdange (Luxembourg), winners of Preliminary groups F and D. Group 7: St. Andrews (Malta), Torino (Italy), winners of Preliminary groups H and B. Group 8: Loznica (Serbia), Athletic (Ukraine), winners of Preliminary groups A and G.