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September 10, 2026
All you need to know about the Champions League
What is the Basketball Champions League?
The Basketball Champions League (often abbreviated BCL) is FIBA's top-tier European competition. It was launched in 2016 as a major continental competition alongside the EuroLeague and EuroCup.
Have any British teams competed in the BCL before?
It will be Manchester Basketball's first season in the BCL but two other British teams have played in the BCL before Leicester Riders & Caledonia Gladiators.
What stage will Manchester enter the competition?
Manchester will play in the Qualification rounds and have been drawn against German side Fitness First Würzburg Baskets and will play them on Monday 14 September. The qualification rounds will be played at a central venue in Bulgaria.
Where can we watch the Würzburg game?
All of the Basketball Champions League Qualifiers will be streamed on their YouTube page... you can watch our game here.
How many teams qualify and what happens if MCR don't make it?
Just one team will qualify from the qualification round in Manchester's tournament. Should Manchester not win the competition FIBA have confirmed their spot in the FIBA Europe Cup (a separate European competition), entering at a group phase.
What is the tournament's format?
Qualification Round Tournament 2
Round of 16
1: VEF Riga (LAT) vs. Landau Lions (AZE)
2: BK Opava (CZE) vs. Dziki Warszawa (POL)
3: Fitness First Würzburg Baskets (GER) vs. Manchester Basketball (GBR)
4: Rio Breogan (ESP) vs. Rilski Sportist (BUL)
5: Promitheas Patras BC (GRE) vs. BC Vienna (AUT)
6: Glint Manisa Basket (TUR) vs. Kolossos H Hotels (GRE)
7: SL Benfica (POR) vs. Lions de Geneve (SUI)
8: RASTA Vechta (GER) vs. Yukatel Denizli Basket (TUR)
Quarter-Finals
QF1: Winner 1 vs. Winner 2
QF2: Winner 3 vs. Winner 4
QF3: Winner 5 vs. Winner 6
QF4: Winner 7 vs. Winner 8
Semi-Finals
SF1: QF1 winner vs. QF2 winner
SF2: QF3 winner vs. QF4 winner
If Manchester reach the regular season who will they play?
The winner of the Qualification Round 2 will play in Group F with Cholet Basket (FRA), Hapoel Holon (ISR) and Spartak Office Shoes (SRB).
What is the Basketball Champions League?
The Basketball Champions League (often abbreviated BCL) is FIBA's top-tier European competition. It was launched in 2016 as a major continental competition alongside the EuroLeague and EuroCup.
Have any British teams competed in the BCL before?
It will be Manchester Basketball's first season in the BCL but two other British teams have played in the BCL before Leicester Riders & Caledonia Gladiators.
What stage will Manchester enter the competition?
Manchester will play in the Qualification rounds and have been drawn against German side Fitness First Würzburg Baskets and will play them on Monday 14 September. The qualification rounds will be played at a central venue in Bulgaria.
Where can we watch the Würzburg game?
All of the Basketball Champions League Qualifiers will be streamed on their YouTube page... you can watch our game here.
How many teams qualify and what happens if MCR don't make it?
Just one team will qualify from the qualification round in Manchester's tournament. Should Manchester not win the competition FIBA have confirmed their spot in the FIBA Europe Cup (a separate European competition), entering at a group phase.
What is the tournament's format?
Qualification Round Tournament 2
Round of 16
1: VEF Riga (LAT) vs. Landau Lions (AZE)
2: BK Opava (CZE) vs. Dziki Warszawa (POL)
3: Fitness First Würzburg Baskets (GER) vs. Manchester Basketball (GBR)
4: Rio Breogan (ESP) vs. Rilski Sportist (BUL)
5: Promitheas Patras BC (GRE) vs. BC Vienna (AUT)
6: Glint Manisa Basket (TUR) vs. Kolossos H Hotels (GRE)
7: SL Benfica (POR) vs. Lions de Geneve (SUI)
8: RASTA Vechta (GER) vs. Yukatel Denizli Basket (TUR)
Quarter-Finals
QF1: Winner 1 vs. Winner 2
QF2: Winner 3 vs. Winner 4
QF3: Winner 5 vs. Winner 6
QF4: Winner 7 vs. Winner 8
Semi-Finals
SF1: QF1 winner vs. QF2 winner
SF2: QF3 winner vs. QF4 winner
If Manchester reach the regular season who will they play?
The winner of the Qualification Round 2 will play in Group F with Cholet Basket (FRA), Hapoel Holon (ISR) and Spartak Office Shoes (SRB).
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