The Champions League will be back again next term (Picture: Jan Kruger – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

The current Champions League campaign might not be over just yet, but attention is starting to turn to the 69th edition of the European Cup next season.

Following the conclusion of the domestic leagues, the majority of the teams taking part in the competition next season have already been confirmed.

The Champions League 2023/24 will be the last edition as we all know it, with the tournament evolving to a Swiss-style model with two extra fixtures per club from 2024/25 onwards.

Let’s take a look at which clubs will be playing in the Champions League next season.

Which teams are taking part in next season’s Champions League?

So far, 26 teams have qualified for the group stages of the Champions League 2023/24.

St. James’ Park will play host to Champions League football once again (Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Whilst a number of the usual suspects will be present once again, next year’s competition will feature a whole host of surprise names.

Newcastle will be making their first appearance in the Champions League since 2002/03 whilst French club Lens, who finished one point behind PSG in Ligue 1, are back in the big time after a 20-year absence.

Real Sociedad finished fourth in La Liga to book their place in the competition for the first time since 2013/14.

Union Berlin, meanwhile, will play in the Champions League for the very first time courtesy of their fourth place in the Bundesliga.

Premier League runners-up Arsenal have not featured at the top table of European football since 2016/17.

The remaining six places in next season’s Champions League will be determined by the qualifying phase which takes place across June, July and August.

When is the Champions League group stage draw?

The draw for the group stages of the Champions League 2023/24 will take place on Thursday, August 31.

As is traditional, the 32 teams will be drawn into eight groups of four.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout rounds in 2024 whilst the third-place teams will drop down into the Europa League.

When does the Champions League group stage start?

The group stage will get underway on September 19 and last for 12 weeks until December 13.

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Featuring some familiar and unfamiliar names.