European football is barely back in season, but we’re already looking ahead to May 2026 when the UEFA Champions League winner will be decided. Keep reading cause we’re dropping early predictions on which teams will and will NOT capture UCL glory!

2026 Champions League Odds

Let’s start here, with the current Champions League odds. At the best betting sites for soccer, these teams are being pegged as the favorites to win it all:

TeamBovadaBetUSMyBookie
PSG+500+500+500
Liverpool+600+600+600
Real Madrid+700+700+700
Barcelona+700+700+700
Arsenal+750+750+750
Man City+800+800+800
Bayern Munich+1000+1000+1000

2026 Champions League Betting Advice

Football fandom is strong. So strong that all the top-flight clubs have a compelling case to win the UCL from its diehards. Our job is to block that noise and be selective with our Champions League betting. That’s why we’re not just telling you which clubs to bet, but also the ones to skip out on.

Bet PSG

Don’t overthink this bet. The current favorites and also defending Champions League winners are MUST bet. How could they not be after an all-time great season in 2024-25? In Ligue 1, they didn’t lose a game, only drawing three times. They clinched the league title on April 5th, the earliest in Ligue 1 history.

The club pulled off a historic quadruple, taking the Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and Champions League. The latter was won 5-0, finally ending its UCL drought that had haunted them forever. PSG was also one win away from taking the Club World Cup.

It was pure domination, and we would expect more of the same this next season. It essentially brings back its entire roster, which is mostly young, by the way. Dynasty in the making? We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves, but it’s within the realm of possibility. Easy bet here!

PSG to win 2026 Champions League
BetUS
+500
Bet Now!

Do NOT Bet Real Madrid

Real Madrid won the Champions two years ago. That summer, they signed Kylian Mbappe. Thus its path to a second straight title felt pre-ordained — until it wasn’t. Madrid underperformed expectations with Mbappe and flamed out of the UCL in the quarters. The miserable season (by its lofty standards) got manager Carlo Ancelotti sacked.

Out is Ancelotti, and in is Xabi Alonso. The World Cup-winning midfielder was a force on the pitch, but we're not 100 percent sold on him on the sidelines. He’s been thrown right into the wolves — figuratively. The only thing Madrid was higher than in talent a year ago was ego. The team rarely played as a unit, especially up front with Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.

We’re of the belief that fixing that won’t be instantaneous. Heck, it might even require Vini getting shipped out — that’s how bad things were a year ago. As crazy as that sounds, Vini has already been benched in La Liga play by Alonso so we wouldn’t rule out the possibility.

There are simply better bets to make right now than on the drama-filled Madrid side. Matter of fact, one of those is its chief rival.

Bet Barcelona

Barcelona is the better bet out of the two La Liga supergiants. They are fresh of a tremble last season — winning the league, Supercopa de Espana, and Copa del Rey. Heck, if not for a collapse on the UCL semis, soccer fans would’ve seen the matchup they wanted in the finals vs. PSG.

But what makes them better this season? It’s a mix of continuity and new pieces. On the latter end, Barca brought in two players, Joan Garcia and Marcus Rashford, that should provide immediate boosts to weakened positions (goalkeeper and left wing).

But here’s the reason bettors should be licking their chops: Lamine Yamal and his new No. 10 shirt. The 18-year-old phenom has been installed as the team’s attacking playmaker. While we’ll stop short of comparing him to the old No. 10 Leonel Messi, Yamal’s continued ascent should vault Barcelona in the UCL. A bet on Barca is a bet that Yamal becomes one of the world’s best this season.

Barcelona to win 2026 Champions League
BetUS
+700
Bet Now!

Do NOT Bet Man City

After winning four Premier League titles in a row (and its first-ever Champions League in 2023), City came back down to Earth last season. Pep Guardiola’s side was ravaged by injuries, none bigger than the Balon d’Or defensive midfielder Rodri. His absence made City vulnerable to counterattacks all season long.

Here’s the thing: Rodri is back this season, but we’re not confident he’ll be back to that world-class level. An ACL injury causes him to miss nine months of action, and at the age of 29, an injury like that rarely means a 100 percent return to form. Personally, we’re not optimistic he’ll ever be the same, which sours us on Man City here.

How To Bet On UCL This Season?

UCL betting will come in all forms, not just futures. Of course, you’ll be able to get action on the single matchups throughout. To get all UCL bets in one spot, we strongly suggest using one of the underneath bookmakers. Not only are they great all-purpose books, but they’re offer lucrative promotional bonuses. We’re talking deals giving out $1000 in free play just for signing up. Obviously, that’s money that can be poured right back into UCL bets for free! See the table for our recommended books and bonuses.