Subject to regulatory approvals, Shakhtar Donetsk FC will play their home matches in the league phase of the 2026/2027 UEFA Champions League at Stamford Bridge in London. The management of the club and Chelsea FC, the stadium's owner, have reached an agreement. SCM, the club's General Partner and Sponsor, has welcomed the move. The tournament draw takes place on 27 August, with the first matches played in early September.
Where will Shakhtar play its Champions League home matches?
Subject to regulatory approvals, Shakhtar will play their home matches in the 2026/2027 UEFA Champions League league phase at Stamford Bridge in London. The management of the club and Chelsea FC, the stadium's owner, have reached an agreement.
Shakhtar qualified for the league phase automatically as champions of Ukraine and will play at least four matches at the ground.
Why is Shakhtar playing its European matches away from Ukraine?
The club has not played at the Donbas Arena in Donetsk since 2014. Since the start of the full-scale war, Shakhtar has staged its European home matches in Germany, Slovenia and Poland. London is home to a large Ukrainian community.
What has SCM said about the move?
Jock Mendoza-Wilson, Director of International and Investor Relations at SCM, said:
"As General Partner and Sponsor, it is particularly important to us that Shakhtar's home matches will be played in London — a global capital of business and investment. This gives us an opportunity to use this global platform to deliver a clear message: Ukraine can and should be invested in today, without waiting for the war to end."
"Since the start of the full-scale invasion, SCM, founded by businessman Rinat Akhmetov, has invested more than US$4 billion in Ukraine," Mr Mendoza-Wilson said. "And today, from London, we are calling on international investors to do the same — to invest in Ukraine alongside us."
What is the history of Stamford Bridge?
Stamford Bridge is one of England's most famous stadiums, having first opened in 1877. The ground underwent major redevelopment between the 1970s and the 2000s, taking on its current appearance after work on the West Stand was completed in 2001. It is located in Fulham, west London, and has been the home of Chelsea FC since 1905 — for more than 120 years. The stadium has a capacity of 40,022.
When do the matches begin and how can fans attend?
The draw for the league phase takes place on 27 August, when Shakhtar will learn the eight opponents they face this season. The first matches are played in early September. Information on when tickets for Shakhtar's matches at Stamford Bridge will go on sale will be available soon.
