BK Häcken have learned their group stage opponents for the 2026/27 UEFA Women's Champions League. The Allsvenskan club faces a formidable challenge, drawn against French giants Lyon, English powerhouses Chelsea and Manchester City, as reported by Aftonbladet Sportbladet.
The group stage of the reformed competition, now played in a league format with 18 teams, begins on September 22 and runs until December 16. Each team will play three home and three away matches. The full schedule with exact dates and kick-off times will be published on Saturday.
Who are Häcken's opponents in the group?
Häcken are set to face some of Europe's absolute strongest women's football clubs. Lyon are one of the most successful teams in the competition's history, while both Chelsea and Manchester City are perennial top contenders in the English Women's Super League. It presents a major challenge for the Swedish side.
Manchester City are led by Swedish coach Andrée Jeglertz, with Therese Sjögran as sporting director. Häcken have previously had players at several of the opposing clubs. Elma Junttila Nelhage and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd have represented Lyon, while Nathalie Björn has played for Chelsea. Olivia Schough was previously at Inter, another team qualified for the group stage.
What does the captain say about the challenge?
Häcken captain Anna Anvegård is looking forward to taking on the big names. "There will be several tough matches against good opposition, but it's always fun to be involved in these contexts," she told Aftonbladet Sportbladet. "It's a pretty tough draw but we go in with the attitude to advance, which of course will require top performances from everyone."
Häcken qualified directly for the group stage after defeating Hammarby in the Europa Cup final. Barcelona are the reigning champions after a 4-0 win over Lyon in last season's final. The upcoming final will be played in Warsaw on the last weekend of May 2027.
How is Häcken preparing for the tournament?
Ahead of the tough European campaign, Häcken also have important domestic focus. The team's next match in the Allsvenskan is away to Malmö FF on October 18, a game important for their league position. The club is currently managing some absences in the squad. Goalkeeper Andreas Linde, midfielder Ben Engdahl and defender Filip Ohman are all currently sidelined with injuries. Fans can follow the team's status and updates on our injuries page.
The tournament, besides Häcken and their group opponents, also features giants like Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Roma, Benfica, Paris FC, Leuven, Köge, Austria Wien and Servette. Felicia Schröder, a former Häcken star, now plays for Real Madrid, a team also in the group stage. Häcken are ready for an exciting autumn with both European and domestic play, and the full schedule can be followed on our fixtures page.
