Shakhtar Donetsk to host Champions League ties at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge
Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk will play its 2026/27 Champions League home fixtures at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge while still displaced from its own stadium.
Shakhtar Donetsk, forced to leave the Donbas Arena due to the ongoing conflict, has secured a deal with Chelsea to use Stamford Bridge for its home games in the 2026/27 Champions League. The club will host a minimum of four matches at the historic London stadium, which can accommodate a large Ukrainian community residing in the capital. Chelsea’s own disappointing 2025/26 campaign, which left them out of European competition, allowed them to offer the facilities.
Shakhtar earned a place in the league phase by clinching the Ukrainian Premier League title last season. Previously, the team has played European fixtures in Poland, Slovenia and Germany, and domestic games at the Lviv Arena. The partnership aims to deliver memorable experiences for both Ukrainian and English supporters.
Why it matters
The arrangement gives a war-displaced club a stable venue for high-profile European matches and highlights the support of the Ukrainian diaspora in London.
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