Shakhtar to Host 2026/27 UEFA Champions League Games at Stamford Bridge

Shakhtar Donetsk will play all four of their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League home matches at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. The agreement still requires final regulatory approval before the Ukrainian champions can use the west London stadium.

The move gives Shakhtar a fixed London base for their European campaign while the war in Ukraine continues to prevent the club from returning to Donbas Arena. The Donetsk venue has been unavailable to Shakhtar since 2014, when conflict began in the region.

Shakhtar have used several temporary homes during that period. Their domestic matches have been staged in Kyiv and Lviv, while their European fixtures have taken place at venues provided by clubs in Germany, Slovenia and Poland.

The club had considered other options in west London, including Brentford’s stadium, before reaching an agreement with Chelsea. Discussions between the two clubs began in July. Chelsea’s lack of European football this season has left Stamford Bridge available for the Champions League dates.

Chelsea said the clubs would work together before the matches to make arrangements secure and properly organised for both teams and supporters. The final approval process remains the next step before the venue switch is formally cleared.

For Shakhtar, the arrangement places their European home fixtures in one of football’s best-known stadiums and gives Ukrainian and English supporters the chance to attend the matches in London. The club described the opportunity as significant and expressed appreciation to Chelsea for making Stamford Bridge available.

The agreement also continues Shakhtar’s long-running search for a dependable European home outside Ukraine. Their Champions League fixtures in 2026/27 will therefore be played at Chelsea’s ground rather than in Donetsk, subject to the required authorisations.