Ukrainian soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk has secured a direct entry into the elite 36-team main phase of the UEFA Champions League, bypassing three qualifying rounds. This advancement provides the club with at least 35 million euros ($41 million) in UEFA prize money, offering a vital financial boost for a team heavily impacted by the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine and its long-term exile from Donetsk since 2014.
Shakhtar’s path to direct qualification relied on a combination of winning its 16th Ukrainian Premier League title and favorable outcomes in other European leagues. Because Ukraine’s lower UEFA coefficient ranking typically prevents its league champion from earning direct entry, Shakhtar needed specific conditions to align: the Champions League winner had to already qualify through its domestic league, and higher-ranked teams in Greece and Scotland—specifically Olympiakos and Rangers—had to miss out on their respective domestic titles. These conditions were met when AEK Athens won the Greek league, Celtic triumphed in Scotland, and Shakhtar defeated Poltava 4-0. Consequently, Shakhtar claimed the reallocated spot as the highest-ranked club in the qualifying path.
CEO Sergei Palkin highlighted the achievement as a moment of national pride that demonstrates the resilience of Ukrainian football. Currently managed by Arda Turan, the team continues to navigate wartime realities, playing domestic matches in Lviv with limited stadium attendance due to security protocols and air raid alerts, while hosting international fixtures in neighboring Poland. The squad also features a strong Brazilian presence, boasting 12 young Brazilian players who find a familiar cultural environment within the club. Shakhtar has not yet decided where it will play its four Champions League home matches, aiming to select a location that accommodates its dispersed fan base across Europe while maintaining a long-term hope of eventually returning to the Donbas Arena in Donbas.
