Why this European club will be playing Champions League games in London
With Arsenal the only London club to finish in the Premier League’s top five, Champions League games in the capital looked to be scarce on the ground next season.
While the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham have been semi-regulars in Europe’s leading club competition in years gone by, that pair could only muster finishes of 10th and 17th respectively, as both missed out on European qualification completely.
While Xabi Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi will be plotting a return to Europe, football fans in London may well have another option if they want to go and watch Champions League football in the upcoming campaign.
Shakhtar set for London Champions League games
That’s because Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, who have had to play their European ties abroad since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are set to play their ‘home’ 2026/27 Champions League fixtures in London.
Following recent negotiations, the club’s boss Arda Turan confirmed on Sunday that his side will be heading to England to fulfil their home fixtures.
“It looks like we’ll be playing our European matches in London for now,” he said following his side’s pre-season friendly draw against Bursaspor. “We really wanted to come to Turkey, but UEFA’s conditions are putting a lot of pressure on us.
“Otherwise, playing in front of the fans in Bursa, Göztepe, Eskişehir has always been magnificent. We’re expecting everyone in London too.”
Where Shakhtar will be playing has not yet been finalised, with the club approaching Chelsea, Fulham and Brentford about the possibility of using their respective stadiums earlier this month, as per The Athletic.
All three of those clubs missed out on European football this season, so their grounds will be available, and it would provide the chosen side with an extra revenue stream, as the Ukrainian team, who have qualified for the competition’s group stage, will pay them a fee.
Shakhtar have played their recent home European matches in Germany, Slovenia and Poland since the war broke out four years ago. Domestically, they have lived a nomadic existence since 2014, when Russian troops annexed Crimea, meaning they were unable to play at the Donbas Arena.
Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge is more than used to hosting European matches, having qualified for various UEFA competitions on a regular basis for the past 30 years.
Fulham’s Craven Cottage has undergone significant renovations in recent years, with the club having enjoyed three European campaigns since 2000.
The newest stadium on Shakhtar’s shortlist is Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, which opened in 2020. While the Bees have not yet qualified for Europe, the ground hosted matches at the women’s European Championship in 2022 and has also held a number of international matches.
