Donetsk Shakhtar has identified its home arena for the main stage of the 2026/27 Champions League season. Subject to obtaining the necessary permits from regulatory authorities, the Ukrainian club will host its European opponents at the legendary Stamford Bridge stadium in London. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA citing the official website of the Donetsk club.
Agreement with Chelsea
The management of the Donetsk club has reached an official agreement with the management of London's Chelsea, the owners of the arena. Shakhtar described this opportunity as special for the team, while representatives of the "Blues" assured that they look forward to hosting the Ukrainian club in London and will cooperate closely to ensure the safe conduct of the matches.
Format and number of matches
The Donetsk team will play at least four home matches of the Champions League main round at Stamford Bridge. Details regarding ticket sales will be announced by the club in the near future, while their opponents will be revealed during the draw, which will take place on Thursday, August 27.
About Stamford Bridge stadium
Stamford Bridge is one of the most famous and oldest football arenas in England, opened as far back as 1877. The stadium is located in the Fulham district in west London and has been Chelsea's home ground since 1905. Following major renovations in the 1970s through the 2000s, the arena acquired its modern appearance and currently holds 40,022 spectators.
Significance of the decision for the club
As emphasized by Shakhtar, the opportunity to play home matches on one of the oldest and most prestigious arenas in Europe is special for the team. Having a guaranteed stadium with a capacity of over 40,000 seats at the start of the Champions League main stage allows the club to plan logistics and ticket sales, while also providing opponents and fans with the infrastructure level typical for top-tier clubs. However, the final launch of the scheme depends on obtaining all necessary permits from regulatory authorities.
Personnel context
Previously, Donetsk Shakhtar strengthened its squad with a 19-year-old Brazilian footballer who finished the season playing in the Saudi Arabian championship. Thus, ahead of the start of the European campaign, the club has not only secured a prestigious arena in the capital of the United Kingdom but also bolstered its roster with a young, promising player.
